BIG STONE GAP — Mountain Empire Transit, a service of Mountain Empire Older Citizens Inc. in Big Stone Gap, has announced it will now offer Saturday transportation service for the residents of Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the city of Norton.
MEOC said the new service is made possible by a grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) through the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and is open to the public.
Mountain Empire Transit provides public transportation services to residents of all ages Monday through Friday. However, the area agency on aging said requests for Saturday service have increased through the years.
“This service would not be possible without the cooperation from numerous partners including the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, DARS and the VBPD,” said MEOC Executive Director Michael K. Wampler.
“In addition, Frontier Health, Family Preservation Services and Creative Family Solutions are providing assistance by coordinating services for individuals with developmental disabilities, the primary audience for the grant.”
Mountain Empire Transit Director Mitch Elliott said the Mountain Empire Regional Advisory Committee recently completed a survey with 80 percent of respondents indicating a strong need for Saturday service.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this service for the citizens of our area,” he said. “We have already been receiving calls from people who have taken advantage of the service thanking us for helping them get out of their house on the weekend.”
The Saturday expansion was launched on Nov. 17 and demand has steadily increased as awareness of the service grew, he said. He expects demand to continue to rise, as even more people become aware of public transportation available for the area on Saturdays.
“We currently have one bus operating in each county for Saturday service and as the demand continues to rise, there is always a possibility we could add additional buses in the future,” Elliott said.
Saturday service hours will be between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., excluding holidays. Charges are 75 cents per boarding for persons age 60-plus and under 18, and $1.50 per boarding for all others. A 24-hour notice is required to schedule a ride on Mountain Empire Transit. Call 276-523-RIDE (7433) or toll free at 1-888-877-6748 for more information or to make a reservation.