Expanded bus service

THE ISSUE

Anchor Trailways has applied for an Alabama Department of Transportation grant to expand bus service from the Shoals to Birmingham.

Everyone can't afford a car or drive a vehicle, and everyone can't afford a plane ticket out of the Shoals if they need to travel.

When the area lost its ride with Greyhound in 2005, this problem became more evident.

So when Anchor Trailways entered the scene in July, it solved a problem for travellers who could benefit from a ride to Nashville and its selection of interconnecting bus routes.

With the success of that line, Anchor Trailways now wants to expand service to Birmingham and connecting bus lines to Chattanooga and Memphis.

The company applied for a grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation to expand the service and hopes to have approval by year's end. The grant program offers financial assistance to provide public transportation to rural areas of the state.

"I know the Shoals has been sort of boxed in since Greyhound left in 2005," said Ray Basden, manager of the Anchor Trailways office in Tuscumbia. "Before we started the rider service to Nashville, local residents had to drive to Athens to catch a bus. A lot of people who need bus service don't have the transportation to get to Athens. If we can get this grant, this would open up a lot of options to residents."

This has been a big year for transportation developments in the Shoals. In addition to the new bus line, the area has gained direct airline flights to Atlanta. Also several highway improvement projects are under way or planned for the near future.

A good transportation system is vital to residents and important for the area's economy. The Department of Transportation should approve this grant to expand bus service and do anything else within its power to make travel to, from and through the Shoals more convenient.