Takes effect Monday; first month’s rides free

With the contract between the Lawrence County Transit, part of the Lawrence County Port Authority, and the Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) set to expire, the Lawrence County Transit has purchased new shuttle buses to continue providing public transportation with new routes.

Beginning on Monday, the new routes for the shuttle buses will be implemented.

“Currently, the TTA is running our bus service. It’s been very good, but funding has ran out and the last day is Friday,” Lawrence County Director of Public Transportation Director Mike Payne said. “So the Lawrence County Transit bought smaller buses to continue public transportation, which will begin Monday.”

Routes will be available in the Ironton and Ashland area, as well as from Burlington over to the eastern end of the county, all the way to Huntington.

“We’re going to have four buses running daily,” Payne said. “Two in the morning and two in the afternoon.”

Stops on Route 1 include the Ironton Transit Center, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, King’s Daughters Medical Center, the Ashland Transit Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center Ironton and Ohio University Southern Ironton. Stops on Route 2 include Burlington Walmart, the TTA Transit Center in Huntington, Marshall University, St. Mary’s Medical Center Huntington, Proctorville Foodfair, Riverview, CAO Proctorville, Proctor’s Landing and Ohio University Southern Proctorville.

The connector routes, Routes 3 and 4, make stops at the Ironton Transit Center, Ohio University Southern Ironton, the Grandview Inn, South Point Post Office, U.S. Bank and Burlington Walmart.

“We picked out hot spots that are popular for people to go to be the stops on the routes,” Payne said. “And we can also pick people up somewhere along the way, if they are within three-fourths of a mile and they call in advance.”

Fares for the buses are $1 each route, or 50 cents for senior citizens or people with disabilities who show a Medicare card. Daily and monthly passes will also be available.

However, Payne said that for the first month, until August 1, it will be free to ride the buses, so daily and monthly passes won’t be available until the first month is completed.

“We want to promote the service and give people a chance to ride it, figure out the schedules and see if they like it,” Payne said. “It’s more convenient for the riders and it will save them some money.”

For more information and complete bus schedules, visit www.lawrencecountytransit.com, although it may not be completely updated until Saturday.