Midcoast residents and Bath Iron Works employees will get a new transit bus line over the summer through a partnership between the city’s biggest employer and Portland’s bus service.

Greater Portland Transit District (Metro) is expanding its commuter bus transportation between Portland and Bath, home to Bath Iron Works and its more than 6,000 employees. An extension of the Metro’s BREEZ route will begin on July 7, making the trip easier and more affordable for people living between Portland and Bath.

“The BREEZ’s expansion to Bath will greatly enhance public transit and improve regional connectivity for our city,” said Bath City Manager Marc Meyers. “I’m thankful for the partnership of BIW and Greater Portland Metro and their work to provide transportation opportunities for residents and the regional workforce.”

BIW obtained the Maine Workforce Transportation grant to add this service while maintaining the Metro bus system’s fares. The fares will be $4 each way, with discounts for riding frequently or buying a book of 10 bus tickets. Additional discounts are available for veterans, passengers over 65, and passengers with disabilities.

The bus leaves its first Portland stop at 5:10 a.m. and makes additional stops in Portland, Yarmouth, Freeport and Brunswick before arriving at the Bath Visitor Information Building Center at 6:20 a.m. The route will reverse departure at 3:40 p.m., with pickup and drop-off locations to meet the schedule needs of shipyard workers and accommodations for the general public.

The Metro will offer Bath residents round-trip rides to Portland. A morning route will leave south at 6:20 a.m. and connect with the rest of the Metro bus network.

BIW President Charles F. Krugh said the move will reduce traffic and parking demand near the shipyard while improving the commuting experience. The public-private partnership will allow more people to join BIW’s shipyard and embark on meaningful, good-paying careers building ships for the U.S. Navy.

While working with the Go Maine program to promote shared transportation among shipyard workers, BIW currently runs shuttles from remote parking lots, support van pools with preferred parking, and a subsidized bus from Lewiston.

The new bus service is in addition to efforts already underway at the shipyard to reduce demand on transportation networks and parking, such as the new parking garage proposed by BIW, which has drawn some concern from residents living near the shipyard.