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Vol. 14 Num. 4
APRIL 2013
skat Transportation System surpasses expectations By Mike Dougherty, Economic Development Director
The Eden skat public transportation system started on Monday, Jan. 7. Great fanfare and media coverage accompanied Eden’s first public transportation system in decades. Despite the cold and inclement weather, ridership has far surpassed what was projected when the grant to create the system was written. During the week of March 4, 257 riders took advantage of the system,
pitalized with a very serious illness. She was able to catch the bus at the Jerry’s Restaurant stop in the Draper Village area of Eden and go visit her husband during his hospital stay and has since been able to use the bus to get herself to Walmart, doctor’s appointments and other destinations. The Eden skat bus has given her independence that she would not have had were the service not available. · A mother of two children had not been able to work for several
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more than double what was initially expected. “We anticipate many more riders once the weather improves,” Lee Covington said. He is the executive director of the Aging, Disability and Transit Service that operates the bus system. In addition to the riders, the system’s benefit to the Eden community has been confirmed by testimonials of those citizens who have been able to obtain employment because they have reliable transportation. At least four individuals have reported this to be the case. Transportation has given some people freedom they have not had in years and others have improved their quality of life. The compelling testimonials include: · A woman living on High Street in Eden had never driven before and had always relied on her husband to get to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, etc. On Jan. 6, he was hos-
months because of daycare issues and lack of transportation. Since she lives near the Georgia Avenue Apartments’ bus stop, she has been able to gain employment with McDonald’s and works almost every day except Sunday, the day the bus does not run. Her self-confidence and ability to take care of her family has soared. · An elderly couple residing in the Spray section of Eden does not drive and relies on the current RCATS fleet to pick them up for doctors’ appointments. The skat bus system stops at their apartment complex. For the first time in years, this couple was able to catch the bus on a Saturday and travel to the movie theater where they watched a matinee and met up with old friends. They have a new social life because of this system.
• A young man who is trying to obtain job skills and further his education catches the bus several times a week from his apartment complex and travels to the Goodwill Community Resource Center on King’s Highway. If it were not for the bus, he would have no other transportation to travel to the Center in order to better his employment skills. • The Historic Leaksville Downtown merchants have described the bus route as a “godsend” because the stop on Washington Street has brought patrons to their businesses that otherwise may not have been able to shop there. • A woman who has worked in a factory most of her life now uses the skat bus to get to work most days, but before it was available, she had to walk 2.5 miles to work each day. • A young father who works at a food service establishment rides not only for work, but also to the public library to research books on the disorder with which his son has been recently diagnosed. • An elderly woman who attends the Bridge Street Nutrition Site rides the bus to purchase groceries each week and now is guaranteed to have more to eat than just the hot lunch that is served at the site. Local businesses are now starting to advertise on the buses. Sponsorships are also available for free-standing shelters that will eventually be at most stops. The skat schedule can be found at www.rideskat.org. For more information on the skat Transportation System progress, contact Meggan Odell, director of Transit Services for the Aging, Disability and Transit Services, at 349-2343 or 394-1300.
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