The Concord Museum will serve as a hub for regional and local transportation during celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. Photo: Dakota Antelman/The Concord Bridge
The Concord Museum will serve as a hub for regional and local transportation during celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. Photo: Dakota Antelman/The Concord Bridge

‘Failed bid’ delays 250th regional transit planning 

January 27, 2025

By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]

After what a Concord250 co-chair called a “failed bid,” organizers recently started over on plans to bring visitors into town by bus for April’s revels.

An initial request from area towns celebrating the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution yielded no qualified bidders.

Speaking with The Concord Bridge, Concord250 Executive Committee co-chair Rob Munro said officials now hope to pick a busing vendor in early February.

Concord250 events could draw tens of thousands on April 19. Lexington will hold celebrations that same day. Arlington is planning events on April 20. 

With crowds in mind, the Battle Road towns of Concord, Arlington, Lexington, and Lincoln reserved $100,000 for a shared busing contract.

Officials issued their first RFP in December, asking companies to run four regional routes on April 19 and one on April 20. Buses would bring spectators from out-of-town lots into Battle Road communities. Some of those buses would move spectators between towns.

In a January 3 interview, Munro said, “The scope of that was too large.”

Then-President Gerald Ford at Old North Bridge in 1975. Photo by William Wheeler Anderson, courtesy of Ken Anderson
Then-President Gerald Ford at Old North Bridge for the revolution bicentennial in 1975. Photo by William Wheeler Anderson, courtesy of Ken Anderson

Streamlining the plan

Officials from the Battle Road towns made adjustments and issued their new request on January 10. The new due date is January 28.

The Battle Road towns’ updated RFP seeks two routes, instead of five. There will be no buses from out-of-town lots.

Officials also slashed the April 19 service schedule from a 2 a.m. to 9 p.m. marathon to a tighter 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. window. They cut all service on April 20. 

Among compromises, Munro said buses won’t get spectators to Lexington in time for its early morning reenactment. Those interested in Concord’s 6 a.m. Dawn Salute will also have to find other ways to get to town. 

The Concord Minute Men seen against the sunrise, Patriots Day 2024. Photo: Ken McGagh/The Concord Bridge
The Concord Minute Men seen against the sunrise, Patriots Day 2024. Photo: Ken McGagh/The Concord Bridge

One of the two regional routes in the new request has stops at the Concord Museum, Minuteman National Historic Park, and in Lexington on Lincoln Street between Worthen Road and Hastings Road. The other route will run between Lexington and Arlington.

Within Concord, local buses will get spectators to and from events and 16 satellite parking lots. There will be two lots in Carlisle.

Munro said officials “feel pretty good” about the regional arrangement. 

While they iron out a deal, Munro said officials are grateful for support from the MBTA, which he said is planning extra service on the Commuter Rail. Local officials have also asked for help from the T’s bus fleet. 

Concord250 organizers continue to urge spectators to use public transportation if possible.

The Concord Minute Men march over Old North Bridge during the annual Dawn Salute, April 19, 2024.  Photo: Ken McGagh/The Concord Bridge
The Concord Minute Men march over Old North Bridge during the annual Dawn Salute, April 19, 2024. Photo: Ken McGagh/The Concord Bridge

‘Pretty big changes’

Munro updated fellow organizers during the Concord250 Executive Committee’s first meeting of the new year on January 15. As he laid out changes to the regional busing RFP, committee member Holly Cratsley balked at the loss of out-of-town lots.

“It’s going to be a mess,” she said.

“We’re going to figure that out,” Munro responded. 

Munro acknowledged “pretty big changes” between the first request and the new request for proposals.

Uncertainty will linger until companies submit bids, Munro said in his earlier conversation with The Concord Bridge, “but my hope is that this scaled-down version will fit within the budget and allow for a successful contract.”

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