Georgia: Dade Transit institutes $1-per-ride fare for county van service

Free rides are a thing of the past for anyone using the Georgia Rural Public Transportation Program in Dade County.

Riders now pay $1 each time they step onto a Dade Transit vehicle.

“This should have happened a long time ago,” Dade County Executive Ted Rumley said. “We’ve been losing money every year.”

The rural transit service’s $154,319 budget is paid half by the county and half with a federal grant. The fares will help pay the county’s share to provide countywide public transportation.

The service combines regular routes and on-demand service, providing basic mobility for all county residents. It operates on an on-call basis from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and has regular runs to Covenant College, to homes on Sand Mountain and to medical facilities in Chattanooga and Fort Oglethorpe.

“This is absolutely a lifesaver, especially with layoffs and plant closings,” said Rebecca Page, coordinator for Dade First Family Connection. “This helps people continue to be part of their community.”

Drivers pick up riders at their homes, deliver them to their destinations and return to take them home on the customized Ford box vans, which are equipped to handle wheelchairs.

“We carry them to doctor’s appointments, for dialysis, to go shopping — anywhere they need to go,” said Bruce Castleberry, the county’s director of public service. “We carry about 18,000 to 20,000 riders each year.”

The only restriction is that children must be accompanied by an adult, he said.

Ms. Page said, “I would gladly pay $1 each way to go somewhere. It costs more than that just to start my car.”