Portland Metro passenger bus service is coming soon to Freeport, and to Yarmouth, as well. Really.

Nearly a year after its first targeted startup date, Portland Metro plans to begin service in Freeport and Yarmouth during the first half of June. The original startup time of last summer was delayed for about 10 months when a task force of Portland Metro officials and municipal officials from Yarmouth and Freeport decided early last May to postpone it, because it was determined that larger buses would be needed.

Those three new buses are due to arrive soon in Portland.

“They should be arriving in April, and then we’ll brand them and get them ready for service,” said Denise Beck, director of marketing for Portland Metro. “We hope to know a startup date within the next couple of weeks. It’s most likely to be late May or early to mid June.”

Portland Metro has four bus stops planned for Freeport. The first stop coming north from Yarmouth will be across U.S. Route 1 from L.L. Bean corporate headquarters, which is on Casco Street. The bus will then make stops in front of the Town Hall, near the L.L. Bean Flagship Store and then make its turnaround at the Freeport Community Library.

There will be nine weekday trips, from 6 a.m.-7 p.m., and five Saturday trips, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The regular one-way fare is $3, and a reduced one-way fare is $1.50. Persons 65 and older and disabled persons with a Medicaid card are eligible for the reduced fares. Portland Metro also will take applications from people who don’t have a Medicaid card, but have a condition that a doctor could review, Beck said. Monthly passes also will be available.

Beck said that the stop near L.L. Bean corporate headquarters makes sense in more than one respect.

“L.L. Bean is a large employer, so that’s one reason,” she said. “There are also some neighborhoods there.”

L.L. Bean spokesman Mac McKeever said that the company’s employees coming from the south can take advantage of the service.

“We’ll definitely be making our employees aware of it,” McKeever said. “It will help get cars off the road, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Freeport Town Council has approved funding of up to $90,000 for a three-year Portland Metro trial run. The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce has been involved in the process, as well.

“Our members are very excited about the new Portland Metro service coming to Freeport from Portland,” said Stephanie Petkers, the chamber’s executive director. “It opens up more opportunity to hire employees who live in the Portland area and on the route on the way up to Freeport and also gives people who live in Freeport another option to enjoy Portland without having to worry about parking.”

Petkers said that Portland Metro will participate in the chamber’s Business-to-Business Expo on Tuesday, April 19 from 1-5 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

“We look forward to a wonderful partnership with them and wish them all the best,” she said.