Mass Transit Coming to Appomattox County
Despite an area-wide power outage, about 40 people still showed up on Tuesday evening up to hear John Davis describe his brand new bus service between Pamplin and Lynchburg. The meeting was held in the Appomattox Community Center and ran for about an hour.
Davis answered many questions from the floor and accepted suggestions for making Commonwealth Transportation Resources, LLC (CTR) even more useful for Appomattoxians. Due to begin operation in early August 2008, the CTR will run three trips daily starting in Pamplin at 5:30 am. Two buses holding 24 passengers each will make up the initial CTR fleet.
There will be stops at Evergreen, Triangle Plaza and the Kroger in Appomattox, Spout Spring, Sleepy Hollow, and Concord. In Lynchburg, destinations will include Lynchburg General Hospital, the GLTC bus terminal at the Plaza, Liberty University, Central Virginia Community College, Court Street, Main Street, and River Ridge Mall. Plans are to add a second set of runs primarily for students and employees who work in Lynchburg.
Once passengers disembark at the GLTC terminal at the Plaza, they can literally ride all over greater Lynchburg for a slight additional fare. The bus from Farmville to Pamplin also overlaps with the CTR schedule, making it possible for Farmville residents to travel all the way to Lynchburg and back without driving their cars.
A single round trip from Pamplin to Lynchburg currently will cost $12 but weekly passes good for five round trips or monthly passes for 26 round trips will cost $55 and $260 respectively. Weekly and monthly passes do not need to be uses in a single week or month but can be stretched out for as long as wanted.
Davis also is instituting a CTR Scholarship Program. Students of any age who ride the bus to school and home at least 94% of the time and carry at least seven credit hours per semester will earn $100 per semester. They must also maintain a 2.24 grade point average to qualify. Students who live in either Concord or Pamplin and attend the CVCC satellite campus in Appomattox will be able to ride for only $5 round trip.
With the inauguration of CTR bus service, Davis hopes to alleviate the burden of high fuel costs and make it easier for Appomattoxians to work in Lynchburg while still enjoying the bucolic pleasures of living in Appomattox County. Said Davis, “we are making this possible for Appomattox citizens but it will be up to you to make it work!” He hopes the idea of riding the bus to work will catch on quickly in Appomattox as it has in other areas where mass transit is available.
Davis is planning additional routes and would like to add more buses over time. CTR will also stay abreast of citizen input so that routes can be adjusted to meet the needs of area residents.
CTR has a website, www.thebus2lynchburg.com, which will be online soon (you might want to visit and bookmark the site). Bus routes, schedules, and other information will be available on the Web site and riders will be able to buy bus passes online as well. Passes will also be sold at the True Value Hardware on Rt. 460 just west of town and Tolley’s store in Pamplin. For more information about the bus schedules and stops call 434-664-8867.
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