LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Rides Mass Transit District will implement a new fixed route in Paris on Aug. 4, according to RMTD. The Tiger Fixed Route will run Monday through Friday and will stay within the city’s railroad tracks for now, with potential for future expansion.
The bus route will serve stops hourly starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 4:55 p.m. It will have stops at key destinations such as North American Lighting, the post office, Walmart, Dollar General and the hospital, among others. Fares will cost $1.00 for adults, with discounted rates for seniors, children, and persons with disabilities.
The new route has been in the works for some time, and hopes to improve mobility and access to key services for those without a vehicle in Paris.
“Our goal with the Tiger fixed route in Paris is to be able to provide more flexibility and options for those needing access on the go,” explained RMTD representative Jenna Yager.
A fixed route—which means that users don’t have to call in advance to access the service—provides consistent access to critical services to those who may not be able to, or want to, drive themselves. It also improves mobility for all residents.
According to a report published by the Community Transportation Association of America, rural public transit ridership has increased 7.8 percent in the last eight years, compared with a 2.3 percent increase in urban communities over the same time frame.
A major portion of that demographic is older Americans in rural communities who use public transit to con- nect them to critical services as their driving abilities deteriorate with age.
In a report by Lydia Morken and Mildred Warner, they explain the effect of public transit options on seniors’ ability to age in place.
“Whether older adults can age in place hinges largely on transportation. Can they reach the services available to them, get to a routine doctor’s appointment, or attend a social event?” Morken and Warner investigated. “Most people will outlive their ability to drive, and many will face isolation when they can no longer get behind the wheel. Older adults in rural and suburban areas will feel this acutely as communities designed for the car offer few other transportation options.”
Public transit availability in rural communities can have economic impacts as well, as the CTAA report explores.
Transit initiatives help support economic diversification efforts by “expanding the pool of employees available to businesses, particularly non-drivers (e.g., youths and older Americans) or lower-income residents.”
In a 1998 report, it was found that there was an 11 percent difference in net economic growth between rural counties with public transit agencies and those without. It also found an economic multiplier of 3.5 for every dollar of investment in rural public transit.
The new Paris Tiger route promises inexpensive and consistent transportation within Paris, helping to con- nect residents with local businesses and services.
“We have had a lot of success with fixed routes in our other counties, and we are excited to see the growth of this new opportunity for the Paris area,” said Yager.
More information on the Paris Tiger route and other RMTD services can be found at www.ridesmtd.com. The route will be tracked in real time on the Rides MTD Go app starting in mid-August.