Whitewater Valley Regional Transit Regional reports first-quarter results for Fayette, Union and Wayne counties

The Fayette County Council on Aging, where the Fayette County system had been headquartered, still runs some local routes. The council had decided last year against participating in the federal funding program.

Whitewater’s director, Trisha Dearth-Adkins, reported on the new system’s first quarter during Tuesday’s meeting of the Fayette County Board of County Commissioners. Afterward, Commissioner Dale Strong said the report is helpful in understanding local public transportation needs.

A lot of Fayette County residents travel to Richmond for medical appointments, he said, and are accommodated by the regional system. Others need immediate transportation to locations in Connersville and can often use the Fayette Senior Center vehicles.

Dearth-Adkins said the regional agency now has 18 vehicles and 18 drivers including 12 that were part of the Union County fleet and six from Fayette County. The system collects donations as fares for the rides. The fares are subsidized by the funding grant.

Monthly ridership in Fayette County has increased from 301 in January to 485 in March, she reported. In rural Wayne County, ridership went from 470 ion January to 617 in March; and in Union County, from 506 in January to 517 in March.

By far the largest portion of trips were for medical needs, she reported. Of the 1,194 total Fayette County trips, 371 were medical. Other trips were for work, school, recreation and shopping.

Dearth-Adkins said she hopes the Fayette County Council on Aging will continue handling many local rides. They can respond to same-day calls much easier than the Regional System, which tries to schedule rides that are reserved a day or more in advance.

The Regional System is headquartered in Liberty. For information or to request as ride, call 765-458-7277.