Thrive West Central is expanding its public transportation services to Clay County.

The nonprofit organization plans to introduce a new bus route aimed at enhancing the quality of life in the city of Brazil, as stated by Matthew Tribble, Thrive's director of transportation.

Thrive provides transportation services in surrounding counties, helping individuals access jobs, education, healthcare, and social opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to reach. Tribble noted that Thrive has offered limited services to Clay County for the past year and has observed a steady increase in requests for these services.

"When we consider the demographics of the area and the latent demand that has been shown, we think there is a great opportunity for us to improve accessibility, social equity, public health, and economic benefits to the residents of Clay County through the development of a transportation program."

Recently, Thrive held a public forum to gather suggestions from the community. Tribble emphasized the importance of obtaining feedback from local leaders and residents regarding the proposed routes and hours of operation.

"The meeting focused on the development of the deviated fixed route service for the City of Brazil. Multiple options were presented that prioritized different aspects of transportation. When developing routes, several factors must be considered. These include the location and frequency of stops, geographic coverage, the length of the route in terms of both distance and travel time, the direction of travel, and the pedestrian infrastructure at the proposed stop locations. We presented an express option that would prioritize speed of service and focus more heavily on trip-generating destinations. The second option aimed at covering more of the population by providing stops at some of the more densely populated areas in Brazil, which adds consistency at the expense of speed of service."

The service is funded through various sources, including federal, state, and local funds. The fare structure is currently under review as Thrive expects to make adjustments during this initial pilot period.

"We are excited to offer on-demand service to Clay County residents and also bring this deviated fixed route to Brazil. It is great to see the local leaders making efforts to help address the community's needs. We are grateful to them for partnering with us to improve access to residents. Thrive's transportation department aims to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity for all."
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