EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Buses to connect Tri-State

Published: May 04, 2008 11:25 pm

Two routes to service Lawrence

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

ASHLAND — For the first time in almost three decades the Tri-State will be linked by bus service.

Beginning July 1, the Tri-State Transit Authority, under contract with the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, will begin running continuous bus service from Lawrence County to Huntington and Ashland.

There will be two fixed routes serving Lawrence County, according to Mike Payne, director of public transportation within the Lawrence County Port Authority. The port authority was the designee of the state and federal grants funding the service and is working with the CAO and TTA to provide the service.

The first fixed route will run from Proctorville to Ironton along the river with destination stops in Huntington including Marshall University, St. Mary’s Medical Center and Pullman Square and the TTA bus center at 13th Street and Fourth Avenue. It will also make stops at the Wal-Mart and Sam’s in Burlington and at Ohio University-Southern and the Ironton Hills Plaza. That route will run continuously from east to west all day long, Payne said.

The second fixed route will serve the city of Ironton and will go to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, the Ashland Wal-Mart, Ashland Town Center and King’s Daughters Medical Center, along with the Ashland Bus Depot. That route will run four times a day.

Buses will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Initial fares are expected to be 75 cents but Payne said it may increase based on fuel prices that could increase even before buses begin running July 1.

Five buses have been purchased using federal funds, Payne said. Three will carry up to 20 passengers and the remaining two up to 30 passengers. All are handicap and wheelchair accessible.

Mike Rogers, superintendent of Ashland’s Bus System, said the addition will be an asset to both Ohio and Kentucky residents.

Payne said the routes will “connect the Tri-State.” Ohio riders will get to destinations in Ashland and Huntington, while riders from those areas will also be able to get to Ironton and Ohio destinations, although the routes will not be direct, he said.

Payne said there is a possibility that some express runs to major employers and area colleges could be added in the future. “We want to establish the basic fixed service now and grow from that,” he said.

CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.