When buses aren't enough, VT Connector helps riders reach Appleton International Airport
Reader question: Why are there no public transit connections to Appleton International Airport?
Answer: Valley Transit operates 18 fixed bus routes in the Fox Cities, but none of them reach Appleton International Airport in Greenville.
"There isn't sufficient potential ridership to warrant a regular bus route at this time," Valley Transit General Manager Ron McDonald told me.
However, VT Connector can be used by travelers to reach the airport, with some exceptions.
VT Connector is a service developed by Valley Transit in partnership with United Way Fox Cities. It supplements Valley Transit's bus service by offering transportation to people who live or work outside the bus service area or who need transportation before or after bus service hours.
The rides are provided by a contractor using vans.
"It was primarily designed with workers in mind, but if somebody who's not going to work uses it, they're not excluded," McDonald said. "About 98% of the users use it for work."
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VT Connector is available from 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and Saturdays. It doesn't operate from midnight to 4 a.m., or on Sundays and holidays, so Uber, Lyft or a taxi might be needed during those times.
With VT Connector, riders use regular Valley Transit buses to reach the transfer point closest to their final destination, and VT Connector takes them the rest of the way.
The final destination must be within the VT Connector Zone, which is defined by State 76 on the west side, Outagamie County JJ on the north, Harwood Road on the east and U.S. 10 and Winnebago County G on the south. The area includes Appleton International Airport.
The service also works in reverse. VT Connector takes riders from their starting point — again, it must be within the VT Connector Zone — to the nearest Valley Transit transfer point, and Valley Transit buses take them to their final destination.
There are six transfer points in the system. The one at the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute is the closest to the airport.
For each one-way trip, riders pay the applicable bus fare and $4 for VT Connector.
Riders also can use VT Connector for travel within the VT Connector Zone when bus service isn't available. In those instances, VT Connector will transport riders from their starting point to their final destination for $6.
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Need a ride to the Appleton airport? VT Connector might do the trick
