Towns County authorizes 2021 transit grant application

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw held a special-called meeting Thursday, Dec. 5, to authorize an annual application for a 2021 Towns County Transit grant. Towns County Transit Secretary Betty Greenwood presented the grant application to Bradshaw, and the commissioner authorized the application pending approval of the budget by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The grant application amounted to $99,400, with federal funds of $49,700 and Towns County matching the additional $49,700. Included in the grant is funding for a new transit van, which will replace an existing model, in the amount of $45,002 with Towns County responsible for funding $4,500 of the cost.

Towns County Transit served 3,681 passengers this year, Greenwood said, amounting to over $18,000 in revenue from fares.

Towns County Transit operates Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, with the exception of holidays. A 24-to-48 hour reservation is necessary for scheduling purposes. The current fare for a one-way trip is $2.00 for the first mile, with .40 cents added for each mile, rounded to the nearest dollar. Each stop is an additional $2.00 charge. A flat-rate fare of $6.00 is set for a one-way trip to Union County, doubled for roundtrip. A flat-rate fare roundtrip fare to Young Harris is $8.00, limited to $4.00 for a one-way trip.

Once a passenger disembarks at a destination and re-enters the bus, the trip is considered completed, and a new fare of $2.00 is required.

Passengers with small children must provide a safety seat that meets current state and federal regulations. Up to two children under the age of five may travel with a paying parent or guardian, free of charge. Drivers cannot make change, extend credit, or allow free rides.

The transit system operates within Towns and Union County and is offered solely to Towns County residents.

For additional information on the Towns County Transit System, visit the county website.

Reservations can be scheduled by dialing 706-896-0925.