Last Updated on January 10, 2014 3:16 pm
AppalCART, the local public transportation authority serving Watauga County, reported record ridership of 1,712,873 passenger trips in 834,714 miles of service during calendar year 2013.
This was a 6% increase from the year before which had 1,611,298 passenger trips in 771,801 miles of service during 2012. Hours of service for the transportation authority increased 8% during the same time period. Miles of service increased 8% over those delivered in 2012.
AppalCART’s Transportation Director, Chris Turner said “the 6% increase amounted to an additional 101,575 recorded trips over the total for 2012.” Turner attributed the increase to a combination of things: 3 new 40 foot buses with more capacity and two new routes Silver and Teal which began during the year.
While AppalCART is best known for its bus service, it also provides door-to-door van service through out Watauga County under contracts with human service agencies, and these routes are available to the fare paying public. Both bus and van routes are listed in AppalCART’s printed schedules and on their appalcart.com website.
