PDRTA operating bus service connecting Lamar, Timmonsville and Darlington
Since mid-January the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) has been operating new public bus services that provide one-day-a-week transportation to several communities in south Florence and Darlington Counties that have not had any public transportation in many years. The service operates on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays.
Every Monday PDRTA operates a bus connecting Lamar, Timmonsville and Darlington making a loop four times throughout the day. Every Tuesday, a bus operates between Coward, Scranton, Lake City and Olanta making four round trips. On Wednesdays a commuter bus makes one round trip between Olanta, Timmonsville, and Darlington allowing several hours in Darlington before returning back to Olanta. It also operates a mid-day trip on Wednesday from Darlington to Lamar and back.
Those wishing to ride should call PDRTA (843-665-2227) in advance with trip request information. Although temporary bus stops have been marked in several of the towns, the service is flexible and the bus can be dispatched to meet people who live within proximity to the bus routing. Passengers should call with as much advanced notice as possible to coordinate a pick-up.
This service is being made possible by Genesis Health Care, Inc., a Columbia based company that operates health clinics in Darlington, Olanta, and Lamar. Their subsidy is matching funds available from the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration to pay for the new pilot service. Genesis will issue ID cards for their patients to ride these new bus services free of charge when travelling to / from their clinics. There is a fare for all other passenger trips including those to the new Darlington WalMart opening this year.
Route schedules, fares, and other details are available by calling PDRTA at 843-665-2227, Ext 2 or by visiting their website at www.pdrta.org.
