FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA (WMBF) – The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority is
cutting bus services across the Pee Dee because they can no longer provide wide
spread services due to budgeting problems.
Executive Director, Chuck MacNeil said 12 service
contracts will, or have already been impacted by the loss of revenue. MacNeil
said in order to stop the P.D.R.T.A. from going into financial ruin, some
routes have been cut.
Not only does the bus service get people to work, it also
takes many disabled and sick people to hospitals and doctors appointments.
Board members were forced to make these cuts because
millions of dollars once available to the agency are no longer an option.
MacNeil said he has been going to city and county governments
that the P.D.R.T.A. caters to, asking them to help fill the financial void.
MacNeil said if those local municipalities were able to chip in, some routes
would be able to continue.
"The residual impacts the economy and the region, because of
disconnect to people from jobs, to shopping destinations, and medical
appointments," said MacNeil.
People like Clara Johnson depend on the bus service to get
her to work every day. "It's dependable, it's convenient. Without me not having
my own car right now, it would be very hard for me to get to work right now,"
said Johnson.
The public transportation service is expecting to function
at only 30 percent of its current force by April.
P.D.R.T.A administration is currently waiting to hear back
from local municipalities to see how they can help to continue providing
service to the thousands of people in the PEE DEE.
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