People use KARTS for a variety of reasons – to get to work or doctor’s appointments, to go food shopping, keep dialysis appointments and even get to the local community college campus. Whatever the reason, KARTS buses crisscross the four-county area to provide transportation to people who need it.
And that’s something that make KARTS Executive Director Irene Johnson happy.
Each day, schedulers make appointments for residents and the Kerr Area Regional Transportation Authority buses are dispatched throughout the counties they serve.
“We are here to serve the community,” Johnson told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! “We do so much transportation now,” she said. She said a daily tally could be in the hundreds of routes.
The buses run hundreds of routes each week and even operate on Saturdays to transport people to their jobs or to their dialysis appointments. Drivers are on the road as early as 2:30 in the morning to make sure folks make their 4:30 a.m. appointments at area dialysis centers.
But Johnson has a suggestion for anyone thinking about calling for a ride from KARTS: Call as soon as possible. “As soon as you know you have a trip planned, we need you to call as early as possible,” she said.
And while it’s not mass transit like city buses or subway trains, KARTS buses are considered public transportation, Johnson noted. And for that reason, the use of masks is recommended. And even though the COVID-19 restrictions have eased, she assures riders that the buses are thoroughly cleaned to help keep everyone as safe as possible. There also are cameras with live feeds mounted inside and outside the buses for an additional layer of safety
The last couple of years have been hard on everyone, but especially hard on those without a means of transportation. Johnson said she has enjoyed seeing those folks who found themselves confined at home being able to get out and enjoy life without having to worry about transportation.
The main dispatch center is in Henderson on Ross Mill Road, but each county has its own fleet of buses that remain in those counties, she explained.
And KARTS is not immune to the labor shortage that everyone is talking about. If you’re looking for a job, KARTS is always looking for drivers. Retirees who may just want a part-time job could be prime candidates, she said, inviting others to join the hard-working staff of drivers.
“They are dedicated and want to make sure people get (to their destinations) safely,” Johnson said.
Contact KARTS at 252.438.2573 to learn more.
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