A team of researchers from of South Carolina State University has delivered preliminary results of a study that may help facilitate a public transit system in Laurens County.

During a meeting hosted by Senior Options, Dr. Tom Whitney introduced his colleagues to a group of community leaders who will serve as an advisory panel throughout the process.  According to Senior Options Executive Director James Hill, his organization used grant funding to commission the study, which he hopes will expand the transportation services they currently provide.

The team had performed both quantitative and qualitative analyses, and some of their findings were no surprise to the group.  Dr. Yuan Chang Xie noted that the population density of Laurens County is lower than that of the state as a whole, meaning it is a “very rural county,” at 65.3 percent.  Those figures – combined with the poverty rate, unemployment rate and income statistics formed the foundation of the initial study.  The team also considered the number of people who do not have cars, the number who carpool – and rising population figures of those age 65 and older.

Team member Sarah Constantine discussed results of a “stakeholder survey” recently distributed to business and industry leaders, social service agencies, students and randomly selected members of the general population.

“We asked them questions about their current patterns and their needs: ‘Where do you go on a regular basis? How much would you save if there were some type of public transit available? Do you see a need?  When might you need service?’”

If a transit system is deemed feasible, Whitney said his team would take the process a step further by working with local representatives on cost and implementation issues.  Whitney also cited the aging population, as well as environmental concerns when discussing a general advocacy for public transit.  However, he noted that his job is not to sway Laurens County in one direction or another.

“We don’t want to come back and say ‘This is the best thing for Laurens County.’ We want you to be involved in the design if it’s determined there is both a need and a demand,” Whitney said.

Community representatives including Laurens County Personnel Director Rossie Bell and Laurens YMCA Executive Director Brian Harlan expressed concerns about the costs, and Harlan cautioned against proposing any type of new tax or fee. Kayin Jones of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) alleviated some of those concerns by explaining the flow of state and federal funds for projects in other South Carolina counties.  Although some of those funds require local matches, he said that requirement is often fulfilled through in-kind services.  Modest fares also factor into the operation of other systems.

“There is assistance out there.  We’re just not fully tapping into it,” Hill said.  “We’re already dipping our toe in, and we’re not talking about a big bus system.  But there’s more we can do to help people in Laurens County.”

Hill noted that the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board already provides transportation for its consumers, while Senior Options runs a fleet of 22 vehicles which regularly take local residents to medical appointments and other destinations.

“Our mapping system has already been set up through the county with our Emergency Preparedness.  With the dispatching we’re already doing here, we’re a long way ahead of where many counties would be in terms of trying to implement,” Hill said.

Jones said state officials eventually hope to establish public transit from Greenville to Charleston, and Hill stated that goal could not be achieved without “going through Laurens County.”

“We’re closer to being able to do it than you realize,” Hill said.

The next meeting of the Transit Study Committee will be held at 9 a.m. Dec. 17, at a location to be announced.