CHARLESTON-
Wayne
County residents who rely on public buses for their transportation needs will
be served by a new provider beginning Friday, July 1, 2016. The West Virginia
Department of Transportation, Division of Public Transit (WVDPT) has secured
another provider to assume the rural public transit service in Wayne County.
“Hamlin-based
Tri River Transit Authority will replace Wayne X-Press as the provider for
general public transportation as well as medical transport”, said Bill
Robinson, Executive Director of the WVDPT. The service is funded with state and
federal grants administered by the WVDPT. The new bus service will be known as
Wayne X-Press operated by Tri River Transit Authority.
“Public
transit and medical transportation service customers should not notice any
change to service,” Paula Smith, Executive Director of the Tri River Transit
Authority said.
Service
includes Wayne to Huntington public transit route, incidental public transit
trips, medical transportation trips eligible through MTM, and general medical
transportation trips. Residents in need of public transportation should contact
Tri River Transit at 1-877-212-0815.
Additional
senior services will be delivered by other providers. The Bureau of Senior
Services has retained providers to assume operation of five senior nutrition
centers throughout the county. Individuals in need of transportation to the
senior centers should contact Tim Salamers with the Coalfield Community Action
Partnership at 1-304-235-1701 or Bill Carpenter with the Lincoln County
Opportunity Company, Inc. at 1-304-824-3448.
The
West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Public Transit, is the
state administering agency for all federal and state programs relating to
public transportation. Additionally, it is the designated state organization
for the receipt of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 funding.
Tri River Transit Authority provides safe, reliable, and
low-cost transportation to citizens in Boone, Lincoln, Logan and now Wayne
counties.