Following a planning meeting held in Delta County last Monday, input was given by those who utilize the TRAX (Transit Rural Area Express) program. Katina Johnson, managing assistant, and intern Eagle Tang, with Ark-Tex Council of Governments and TRAX is updating five-year Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan for Northeast Texas after years of mismanagement.
Ark-Tex Council of Governments stepped in and took control of the TRAX service in June 2014 and has been staffing and managing all of the services provided in nine counties in Northeast Texas.
A policy change regarding reservations for rural transportation which requires a 48 hour advance reservation instead of the current 24 hour reservation is being proposed.
A regional TRAX fixed-route bus service which provides point to point transportation between area towns was introduced. Service begins at Paris, 707 Lamar Ave at 8:30 a.m. to Blossom, City Hall at 8:50 a.m. to Detroit, City Hall at 9:00 a.m. to Clarksville, Pride’s Corner at 9:15 a.m. to Bogata, Quick Stop at 9:35 a.m. and ends at Mt. Pleasant, Shell Station at 10:05 a.m. Then the bus heads back to Paris at 12:00 p.m. arriving at Bogata at 12:25 p.m., Clarksville at 12:40 p.m., Detroit at 12:55 p.m., Blossom at 1:05 p.m. arriving in Paris at 1:25 p.m. The schedule starts over again with the bus leaving Paris at 4:30 p.m. arriving at Blossom at 4:45 p.m., Detroit at 4:55 p.m., Clarksville at 5:10 p.m., and Bogata at 5:30 p.m. arriving at Mt. Pleasant at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $3 per trip. This service will operate three days per week and will be available soon.