Licking County Transit begins north Newark deviated fixed bus route Monday
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NEWARK − Licking County Transit announced it's ready to roll out its second deviated fixed route bus service, starting 6 a.m. Monday, in north Newark.
The 22-stop route will travel primarily along West Main and North 21st streets but will also include the Newark campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College, the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County and the Licking County Health Department on its regular schedule of stops.
There will also be stops at Walmart, Kroger and Sheetz gas station on North 21st Street and Licking Memorial Hospital and the Miller branch of the Licking County Library on West Main Street, connecting with the first line.
Licking County Transit Executive Director Matt Allison made the announcement at the Licking County Health Department, the 12th stop on the route. He said the second transit line will connect residents with jobs, education, health care and food access at no charge to riders.
"It will provide north-south access to crucially-needed services," Allison said. "It is not merely a pathway, it is a lifeline connecting vital institutions and services within our community.
"Line 2's 21st Street corridor is more than just a collection of bus stops and schedules. It is a symbol of progress, unity and community empowerment. It represents our collective commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind."
The Licking County Health Department, Ohio State-Newark and Central Ohio Technical College all chipped in to help pay for the new service, which has enough guaranteed funding to last until July of next year.
The transit service began a 25-stop Main Street route in July, traveling from medical facilities on Tamarack Road in far west Newark to the Licking County Aging Partners in far east Newark.
The Main Street route has had 1,800 passenger trips so far. The federal government paid half of the cost, and Licking Memorial Health Systems funded the local match.
"In the first six weeks, we celebrated our 1,000th customer," Allison said. "It's been a great success. We're really pleased by that. The success of our inaugural line is a testament to the pressing need for reliable and accessible public transportation in our community."
Licking Memorial President and CEO Rob Montagnese said the Main Street route has exceeded all expectations.
"It really has made a meaningful impact on our ability to provide health care," Montagnese said. "The more this expands, the healthier Licking County is, and that's our mission."
A third route from Newark to Granville and Denison University is planned to start next year.
Attending the announcement were Montagnese, Licking County Commissioners Tim Bubb and Rick Black, Newark Mayor Jeff Hall, OSU-Newark Dean-Director Bill MacDonald, COTC President John Berry, Licking County Health Commissioner Chad Brown, Licking County Area Transportation Study Director Matt Hill, county transit officials and drivers and representatives from Central Ohio Transit Authority.
"This is kind of a big deal," Bubb said. "Nobody walked here today. This is something that will make a difference in people's lives. I'm proud of what we're doing."
Drivers can deviate from the established route by up to three-quarters of a mile to pick up any passenger who asks, if time allows. Demand response service for a pickup from a specific address remains available but at a cost.
Transit driver Don Swonger said there are several regular riders.
"One guy goes for dialysis," Swonger said. "He rides the bus and it's helped him. A lot of people go to doctor's offices, and they don't have to schedule a ride."
Allison said, "One lady said, 'I don't have a car. I moved here from Columbus.' She said this allows me freedom. Her 5-year-old son said, 'This is the best day of my life. I get to ride transit and go to the library.'"
Licking County has been a growing county, but the growth rate is expected to accelerate in preparation for the opening of Intel Corp.'s $20 billion computer chip manufacturing facility, just south of Johnstown, in 2025, when it will employ thousands of workers.
There are already thousands of construction workers building the facilities. And, Intel will have about 150 suppliers either already in Ohio or coming here.
"We're growing in population," Bubb said. "We can't build roads fast enough to handle all of this. We have to look at a way to move people more efficiently."
Hill praised the business community for providing funding to help provide the service.
"We didn't know what to expect when we kicked if off," Hill said. "We had over 500 people a month on the first line, with no connection to any other line.
"Our business community that is connected with us, they were the ones who created a development plan and said we need help getting employees to us. They stepped up, no questions asked. Without them, this wouldn't have happened."
The Licking County Health Department, located at 675 Price Road in a building that opened in 1932 as a tuberculosis sanitarium, more than 4 miles from downtown Newark, has not been the easiest location for residents.
"It was built on a hill outside of town for a reason," Brown said. "We're just really thrilled to be connected now to the rest of 21st Street and LMH and all the way down Main Street. Now, it'll be way easier to get folks out here and provide them with all the services we have."
Licking County Transit has about 40 buses and employs 40 to 45 drivers, but Bubb said another five to 10 drivers are needed. And, as service expands, even more drivers will be needed.
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Licking County Transit north Newark bus route
Following are the Licking County Transit bus stops on the new north Newark deviated fixed bus route. The stops followed by a time are hard stops, which means drivers must stay there until the time specified. If the bus is on time or running behind, drivers may skip the stop if no riders are visible. Drivers are not required to stop at the soft stops if there are no visible riders waiting at the bus stop sign. Riders are advised to arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
1717 W. Main St.: Top of the hour.
LMH eastbound.
West Main and 28th streets.
North 21st and Camp streets northound, :05 after the hour.
North 21st and Columbia streets northbound.
OSU-N/COTC Warner Center, :12 after the hour.
Moull Street Sheetz entrance, :16 after the hour.
North 21st Street and Pierson Drive.
North 21st Street and Log Pond Drive.
LMH Goosepond Road, :22 after the hour.
Goosepond Road and Independense Drive.
Licking County Health Department, :26 after the hour.
Price Road and Churchill Downs.
Price Road and Stanhope Drive.
Walmart, :33 after the hour.
Kroger, :37 after the hour.
North 21st Street and Jackson Boulevard.
North 21st and Moull streets.
North 21stand Columbia streets, :44 after the hour.
North 21st and Camp streets southbound.
Miller branch, Licking County Library westbound.
LMH westbound.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County Transit begins north Newark fixed bus route on Monday
