Polk commissioners agree to cease bus route

COLUMBUS — Foothills Express is no longer available for Polk County bus riders who previously had stops from Tryon to Mill Spring.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and approved a motion to cancel the service.

Consolidated Human Services Director Joshua Kennedy said the deviated fixed route began several years ago, and was funded by a grant.

“It came to point where it was no longer feasible to continue the fixed route,” Kennedy said.

The bus route began in 2015 with two buses, and was funded partially through a North Carolina Department of Transportation grant. The service allowed riders to catch a ride along several stops along Highway 108 between Tryon and the Mill Spring Agricultural Center.

The county’s transportation system has always and will continue to offer rides to residents both inside and outside the county with reservations.

Foothills Express allowed residents to ride along the deviated route without reservations, for a minimal fee.

In October 2016, county commissioners decided to scale back Foothills Express to one bus because of a lack of riders.

Between November 2015 and August 2016, only 386 people rode the bus along the route.

Transportation Director Dianne Timberlake told commissioners in 2016 that there were often times when no one was at the bus stop, causing the vehicles to run without any passengers. When the county scaled back the service, they agreed for the bus not to stop if no passengers were waiting at the stops.

The bus ran between 8:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays once the service was scaled back. Originally, the two buses ran until 4:30 p.m.

Kennedy said on Monday the grant has stopped, with service ending immediately once commissioners gave their approval.

County Manager Marche Pittman said after the meeting that the county will keep the buses to use for other transportation services.

To schedule a ride, people may call the transportation department at 828-894-8203. Appointments normally need a two-day notice, with the cost depending on the destination.

More information about the transportation service can be found at polknc.org.