Mountain Line Transit
News: 1998-1999
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Mountain Line's Depot Noted in the WV Council for Community and Economic Development's 1999 Annual Report
December 23, 1999: Click here for full size picture and 1999 Annual Report excerpt.
Holiday Bus Schedule Modified
December 16, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority will be running a modified bus schedule on December 24th. Buses will be running the Saturday schedule on Christmas Eve. Should this reduced service cause any rider an undue hardship, please contact Mountain Line as soon as possible at 291-RIDE (7433) to make alternative arrangements. Normal service will resume on Monday, December 27th, 1999.
Riders Respond: Bus Route Changes Planned for Red and Gold Lines
November 29, 1999: Effective Monday, December 6, 1999, the Mountain Line Transit Authority will change the Red Line and Gold Line routes serving Suncrest, Star City, VanVoorhis, Mon General, Chestnut Hill Apartments and surrounding areas. These changes are based on surveys of riders and residents and were chosen two to one by current riders over the next most popular schedule alternative. The new route changes provide direct trips downtown without transfers or layovers.
Drivers will distribute new Gold Line and Red Line schedules to riders on the bus before the route changes go into effect on Monday. Riders can also call 291-RIDE (7433) for more information about these changes and they can find the schedules on this site.
Mountain Line Buses Not Running Thanksgiving Day
November 19, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority would like to remind riders that there will be no bus service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th. Normal service will resume on Friday, November 26, 1999.
Reduced Mountain Line Buses on WV-VT Game Day
October 29, 1999: In anticipation of a large crowd for the West Virginia – Virginia Tech Football Game on November 6, the Mountain Line Transit Authority will reduce service on some routes before the game. This service reduction is being made in anticipation of heavy traffic which normally prevents timely running of these routes during home football games.
The following Saturday runs will be eliminated on November 6 only:
1) all Gold Line and Red Line Routes from 10:30 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.
2) the Purple Line from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3) the Blue Line from 1:05 p.m. through 2:15 p.m.
4) the 2:00 Cassville Route.
If these schedule changes cause undue hardship on Mountain Line riders, they are encouraged to contact Mountain Line as soon as possible for alternative transportation arrangements. Additional information or scheduling assistance is available Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. at 291-RIDE (7433).
Mon Senior Center Gets 57 Trips Per Day
October 6, 1999: Effective Wednesday, October 13, Mountain Line Transit will redirect buses through Downtown Morgantown to provide 57 trips per day both to and from the Garrett Street Depot. These modifications are being made in response to requests from Mon Seniors and riders who asked for better service between Mountain Line’s Depot and Downtown Morgantown. Beginning on the 13th, the Blue Line, Blue and Gold Shuttle and the Tyrone Road bus will travel from the Depot to Spruce Street via Foundry up Lower High Street by the Post Office and will run the full length of Spruce Street. Designated stops on Spruce Street will include the Mon Senior Center and the City’s Public Safety Building. Trips from Downtown to the Depot will begin at the Court House Square at the front of the Senior Center. Schedules to and from the Senior Center are available at the front desk of the Senior Center and times to the Depot will be posted on the Court House Square.
An additional route modification planned for Wednesday includes a change on the Southside route. The Southside bus will no longer travel Ross, Grandview, Sherman, Webster, and Oliver unless requested by a passenger. Riders may request a pickup from that area by calling 291-7433.
One final modification scheduled to begin on Wednesday is an adjustment to the Tyrone bus route. These changes are a minor modification of the existing schedule to allow more time for traffic and route deviations. Drivers will distribute Tyrone schedules to riders on the bus prior to the changes scheduled for Wednesday. Riders can also call 291-7433 for more information about these changes and they can find the schedules at WWW.BUSRIDE.ORG.
Mountain Line Buses Not Running Labor Day
September 3, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority would like to remind riders that there will be no bus service on Labor Day, Monday, September 6. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, September 7.
Mountain Line to Change Routes on Monday, August 9, 1999
August 4, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority will change its routes on Monday, August 9, 1999. Changes are being made to the system
as recommended in a 1998 City of Morgantown/Monongalia County Transportation Study. Changes in Mountain Line services will include new service and additional service on existing routes. Some of the major improvements include:
Increased service to County and City residents
Rural Routes
Grafton and Fairmont Road Route from 3 to 5 days per week
Mountain Heights from 3 days to 5 days per week
VanVoorhis from 4 times per day to 10 times per day
Cheat Lake from 3 time per day to 9 times per day
Tyrone Road from 5 times per day to 12 times per day
Brookhaven from 5 times per day to 12 times per day
Dellslow from 5 times per day to 12 times per day
Canyon Road from 5 times per day to 9 times per day
Star City Routes
Now includes hourly service to Holiday Inn and surrounding neighborhood
Hourly service to Fairfield, Kensington and Somerset streets
Westover Routes
Hourly service to West Park Street Neighborhoods
Hourly Service to Ohio and Savannah Streets
Morgantown Routes
Stewart Street from 6 times per day to 9 times per day
Brockway Avenue from 5 to 9 times per day
Willowdale Road from 6 times per day to 9 times per day
New service (8 times per day) on College Avenue
Express service between Downtown and Evansdale 30 times per day
Service directly to Towers Dormitory 15 times per day
Municipal Airport from 6 to 36 times per day
Increased service to commercial businesses
Star City Holiday Inn from 0 times to 9 times per day
Hourly service to Euro Suites, Hampton, Star City Day’s Inn
Hotel Morgan from 3 times to 22 times per day
Lakeview from 3 times to 9 times per day
Mountaineer Mall from 18 times to 23 times per day
For additional information, route questions and assistance, visit Mountain Line’s website at WWW.BUSRIDE.ORG or call 291-RIDE (7433). Regular office hours have also been expanded and personal assistance is available from 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Mountain Line Wins Best Safety Award 2 Years Running
August 4, 1999: West Virginia Division of Public Transit presented Mountain Line (Monongalia County Urban Mass Transit Authority) with seven awards under the West Virginia Transit Excellence Program. The awards were presented by the Secretary of Transportation, Sam Bonasso, and Division of Public Transit Director Susan O'Connell at the July 24th Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Public Transit Association. Competitive awards were received for the State’s Best Safety Program, Best Overall Marketing Program, Best Management Innovation, and 1999 Outstanding Transit Manager. Mountain Line also received special recognition from the State for its Board of Directors for their service and dedication to improve public transportation in Monongalia County. Special recognition was also given to Mr. Albert E. Fiorini for his invaluable assistance to the Mountain Line Transit Authority. An additional Community Hero award was issued to Mr. Thomas Montague for his actions in the line of duty.
Mountain Line again emphasized safety in 1998 as a major organizational priority. In an effort to provide efficient, effective and safe transportation, Mountain Line developed special resources to use as training devices for Drivers and Staff. Mountain Line hired three (3) Student Interns to review all written safety procedures and provide employee training. The featured work of this effort was the development of a comprehensive training film covering the topics of drug and alcohol safety, accident safety procedures and general personnel policies and procedures. Using this new training device, Mountain Line is now able to provide initial training to all new hires in these critical and safety-sensitive areas before they ever get behind the wheel of a Mountain Line vehicle.
In addition to winning the Best Safety Program Award for the second year in a row, several Mountain Line Drivers were presented Awards for Accident Free Driving. These Awards will be presented to Drivers at the Authority's August 11 Meeting of the Transit Authority at the Garrett Street Depot.
Mountain Line was also recognized by the State for its Best Overall Marketing Program. Mountain Line produced a variety of public information and advertising pieces in 1998 in an effort to keep our riders informed and up to date on our service improvements.
The State Division of Public Transit also awarded Mountain Line with the Best Management Innovation Award for use of a $50 dollar shareware program. This inexpensive solution helped reduce overtime personnel expenditures by nearly 80%, savings of more than $20,000 dollars in public funds.
The final award issued by the State was an award for a local Community Hero. A Mountain Line Driver and Shift Supervisor, Mr. Thomas Montague, was given this prestigious award for his actions and public service while on duty. In late November of 1998, after witnessing a single vehicle accident on an early morning, rural route, Tom assisted the accident victim out of her overturned vehicle in freezing water. Mr. Montague then notified authorities secured the accident scene and directed traffic for over 30 minutes while waiting for help to arrive.
Willey Street Closed – Mountain Line Buses Will Detour
June 25, 1999: Due to the planned closure of Willey Street on Tuesday, June 29, the Stewart Street/Sabraton Mall routes and the Tyrone/Over Cheat routes will detour in the following manner:
Stewart Street/Sabraton Mall – Leave the Courthouse via Brockway Avenue to Route 7, to Mineral, to Richwood Avenue, turning at Mario’s Fishbowl and continuing the regular route.
Tyrone/Over Cheat – Leave the Courthouse via Brockway Aven ue to Hartman Run Road to the Mileground, across the Mileground and down Easton Hill to U.S. 119 to Canyon Road at Dairy Mart and continuation of the regular route from there.
For specific questions or additional information, please call 291-7433.
County Health Department to Serve as Northern Hub
June 7, 1999: Through a cooperative agreement between the Monongalia County Health Department and the Mountain Line Transit Authority, the County Health Department Building located just off Elmer Prince Drive will become the new Northern Hub for Mountain Line Transit. This coordinated effort will provide better access to health services while offering the benefit of a sheltered environment for Mountain Line bus riders.
Initial contact for this coordinated effort was made by County Commission President John Pyles and has been well received by both organizations. Mountain Line is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the Health Department in this effort and looks forward to expanding the relationship to provide better access to health care for County residents.
Implementation of transportation services is scheduled for late summer of this year with the objective of being operational before the beginning of the WVU Fall Semester. For more information about this coordinated effort, call Mountain Line Transit at 291-RIDE (7433) or the County Health Department at 598-5140. Updates on changes in bus routes and times will be posted regularly on Mountain Line’s web site.
Mountain Line Buses Not Running Memorial Day
May 26, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority would like to remind riders that there will be no bus service on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, June 1st.
Mountain Line Goes Natural
May 14, 1999: Board Members Jenny Dinsmore and James Caravasos attended a Natural Gas Fleet Vehicles Workshop in Flatwoods yesterday and represented Mountain Line as they were recognized for participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program. The Transit Authority received this recognition for its recent addition of two, natural gas vans to its vehicle fleet. These two, fifteen passenger Dodge vans are dedicated natural gas vehicles and were purchased by the WV Division of Public Transit for use by Mountain Line. The West Virginia Development Office, the U.S. Department of Energy and the West Virginia Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition sponsored the Workshop.
Mountain Line’s vans were on display at the workshop along with other new, factory-manufactured vehicles for attendees to inspect. Mountain Line will use the new vehicles to augment existing services and to provide service expansion for commuters and other special community needs. Mountain Line will keep detailed records on the maintenance needs of these two clean air vehicles for comparison with similar gasoline and diesel engine vehicles. Local fuel costs for natural gas vehicles are as low as $0.75 cents per gallon-equivalent and Mountain Line expects significantly lower engine-maintenance-expense with these two new vehicles. If you are interested in more information about Mountain Line’s new vehicles or the Clean Cities Program, call 291-RIDE for more information.
Special Needs Public Forum on April 21, 1999
April 16, 1999: The Monongalia County Commission has scheduled a public forum for residents who are or may be using the Mountain Line Transit Service and may have special physical needs. In a desire to comply with all state and federal laws pertaining to persons with disabilities and accommodate our County residents as best as possible, we have scheduled this forum on Wednesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Dining Room on the second floor of the County Senior Center located at 238 High Street.
The Commission is hopeful that you will come to express your needs and ask questions about how your County officials, through the Mountain Line Transit Service and its staff, can best serve you! We look forward to seeing you.
Mountain Line Buses Free on Election Day
April 15, 1999: Mountain Line's Board of Directors voted unanimously to provide free transportation for Monongalia County residents on April 27th, Election Day. As a principal funding agent of Mountain Line, the Authority voted unanimously to continue the practice of free service for Morgantown City Council elections. The Authority reaffirmed its earlier pronouncement that free transportation on Election Day is a good use of local tax dollars and serves to support the democratic process in Monongalia County. Riders will still be required to exit the bus at the end of each route and political solicitation of any kind is strictly prohibited.
For information on voting precincts or other election information, please call the call the City Clerk's Office at 291-7434. For more information on bus routes, schedules and times, riders can reach Mountain Line at 291-7433 or they can visit Mountain Line's web page at WWW.BUSRIDE.ORG.
Request for Proposals for Vending Machine Services
April 15, 1999: The Monongalia County Urban Mass Transportation Authority (MCUMTA) is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide vending machine services to the Authority beginning July 9, 1999 or before.
The purpose of the project is to provide vending machine services to the general public at the Mountain Line Depot located at 185 Garrett Street, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Copies of the complete RFP are available upon request by calling (304) 291-7433. The RFP is also available on the Internet at http://www.busride.org/bids.htm or by writing to: General Manager, 185 Garrett Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 and asking for a copy of the Vending RFP.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time on May 3, 1999 at the address listed above.
The Monongalia County Urban Mass Transportation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and it is the expressed policy of the MCUMTA that it shall not discriminate against any person, firm, company or corporation in any employment or contracting matter because of race, color, sex, creed, age, handicap, blindness, religion, familial status, veteran status, or national origin.
Public Hearing
April 15, 1999: The Monongalia County Urban Mass Transit Authority (Mountain Line) will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 3, 1999 to describe its intent to change operational service procedures from a fixed-route service to a deviated fixed route service. The hearing will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the Old Railroad Depot at 185 Garrett Street, Morgantown, WV. The purpose of this hearing is to describe this service change to the public and to receive comments and questions from the public. For more information, please call (304) 291-7433.
Mountain Line Makes Minor Route Changes, Adds Trip to Aldi's Supermarket
January 25, 1999: The Mountain Line Transit Authority is pleased to announce the addition of new service which will include service to Aldi's Supermarket on Don Knott's Boulevard (formerly South University Avenue). By altering the Morgantown Mall schedule, Mountain Line has been able to add a trip to the South University Avenue Plaza every hour. Additionally, this route will provide riders with access to the new Depot on Garrett Street. This change will also provide for hourly transportation for Park-and-Ride patrons who park their car at the Garrett Street Depot.
For more information on this new schedule or Mountain Line's Park-and-Ride program, call 291-RIDE (7433) or on Mountain Line's web page at WWW.BUSRIDE.ORG.
Mountain Line Board Meeting Location Moved
December 2, 1998: The Mountain Line Transit Authority is pleased to announce that all Authority Board Meetings will now be held at their new service facility located at 185 Garrett Street. Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month and begin at 6:00 p.m. All Board meetings are open to the public.
Mountain Line Buses Free on Election Day
October 28, 1998: Mountain Line's Board of Directors voted unanimously to provide free transportation for Monongalia County residents on Election Day. The Board considered this community service during their October 14 Board Meeting. Board consensus was that free transportation on Election Day would be a good use of local tax dollars and would serve to support the democratic process in Monongalia County. Riders will still be required to exit the bus at the end of each route and political solicitation of any kind is strictly prohibited.
For information on voting precincts, please call the County Clerk's Office at 291-7230. For more information on bus routes, schedules and times, riders can reach Mountain Line at 291-7467 or they can visit Mountain Line's web page at WWW.BUSRIDE.ORG.
Mountain Line Provides Rides for WV Works
October 9, 1998: The Monongalia County Urban Mass Transit Authority (Mountain Line) and the Morgantown office of the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) are pleased to announce initiation of their new Welfare to Work Transportation Plan for Monongalia County. In cooperation with the DHHR, Mountain Line will provide personalized transportation services for individuals enrolled through the local DHHR office.
Under this new, cooperative program, West Virginia Works clients needing transportation services in Monongalia County will be referred to Mountain Line by their DHHR Case Worker. Mountain Line will prepare individual transportation plans for each client, prepare a fixed cost for that service at the lowest possible prevailing rate, and submit the individualized transportation plan to the client's DHHR Case Worker for approval.
Upon approval of the transportation plan by DHHR, Mountain Line will issue a WV Works photo identification card for each approved participant. The Mountain Line ID will provide the DHHR Client with transportation to the DHHR prescribed destination(s) on the pre approved schedule. Through this program, DHHR Case Workers will have the flexibility to readily prescribe training programs, interviews or other activities they deem necessary while being assured that their client will receive reliable and dependable transportation services. Clients will get where they need to go, when they need to be there.
In addition to the obvious client benefit of this Works program, participants will receive an exciting, additional transportation benefit. Approved clients may use the Works ID for additional, free transportation service on any Mountain Line fixed service route. This means clients can ride the bus to job interviews, trips to the grocery store, and for any other purpose the client might choose - all at no additional cost to DHHR or the recipient. Mountain Line is offering this additional benefit to show our commitment to this effort and provide support to the WV Works Program and its participants. By providing this subsidized service, Mountain Line's intention is to help those who trying to help themselves.
For more information on this exciting new program, contact the Morgantown DHHR Office at 285-3175 or call Mountain Line at 291-7467.
Mountain Line Buses Adding Service
September 15, 1998: The Mountain Line Transit Authority will be modifying the Southside and Mountaineer Mall route and adding three new service areas beginning on Monday, September 21. New areas to be added to existing routes include the general area of Grandview Avenue at the top of Grand Street, Baker's Ridge Road to MonPointe and the MonPointe Continuing Care Center on Vandervort Drive. By expanding and slightly modifying existing routes, Mountain Line is offering service to these new areas.
Two major changes will go into effect for the Southside and Mountaineer Mall route. The first change will include a reversal of the Southside and Mountaineer Mall every other hour. The Dorsey Avenue to Madigan sections will be reversed so riders no longer have to come to town and then catch another bus to get to the Mall. The second change is the addition of the Grandview Avenue area. This added service area will cover Ross Street to Grandview, Sherman, both ends of Grandview, Charleston to Webster, and Webster to Oliver. Buses will begin the Grandview run (going to the Mall) at 7:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., and 5:25 p.m. Grandview runs going downtown will start at 8:35 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 2:35 p.m. and 4:35 p.m.
The Baker's Ridge Road service will be added to the Vanvoorhis Road route. The bus will turn onto Baker's Ridge Road at 8:55 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 1:55 p.m., and 4:25 p.m. and will turn around at MonPointe and travel directly back to Vanvoorhis and continue its run downtown.
The Vandervort Drive service will be added to the Star City run on the way to Mon General Hospital. Stops at the Vandervort Drive MonPointe location will be made at approximately 7:15 a.m., 8:25 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m.
Questions can be directed to Mountain Line by calling 291-7467 from 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Modified schedules and maps can be found on Mountain Line's award winning internet home page or from any bus driver.
Mountain Line Wins Best Safety Award
September 4, 1998: The West Virginia Division of Public Transit presented Mountain Line (Monongalia County Urban Mass Transit Authority) with three awards under the West Virginia Transit Excellence Program. The awards were presented by the Secretary of Transportation, Sam Bonasso, and Division of Public Transit Director Susan O'Connell at the August 13 Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Public Transit Association. The Awards were for the Best Safety Program, Most Creative Single Marketing Program and Best Overall Marketing Program.
The Best Safety Program Award was presented for two new policies initiated by Mountain Line in 1997. The first policy provided a set of field guidelines for drivers to follow so that they can act independently without worrying that management will admonishment them for their actions. This policy provides five management guidelines for drivers to follow: 1) Safety First, Always, 2) Customer Convenience and Comfort, 3) Efficiency and Cost Savings, 4) Public Appearance and Show and 5) Employee Convenience and Comfort. The second policy mandates that all full-time employees take their vacation days each year to rest and recuperate. Past practice had allowed drivers to receive money in lieu of days off.
In addition to winning the Best Safety Program Award, several Mountain Line Drivers were presented Awards for Accident Free Driving. These Awards will be presented to Drivers at the Authority's September 9 Meeting in the Public Safety Building. Awards will be presented to Bill George, Ron Gatian, and Rosalynn Witherspoon for one year of accident free driving. Awards will also be presented to Karen Dalton, Roby Collins, David Beckner, Joe Shultz, Mike Walls, Joe Hess, Jim Huffman, Janet Jackson, Vern Jamison, Clyde Lowe, Tom Montague and Harold Ralston for two years of accident free driving. Many of the two-year Award Winners have been accident free for several years, but the awards only consider service to Mountain Line, newly created in 1996.
Mountain Line was given the State Award for the Most Creative Single Marketing Project for its continuous loop commercial which ran on Century Cables Public Access Channel 3. Mountain Line was also awarded for the Best Overall Marketing Program in the State for its Internet Home Page (www.busride.org), the Channel 3 commercials, "future rider" programs in which the "Barney Bus" visited area schools and daycare centers, took the kids for a ride and told them about Mountain Line bus services.
Mountain Line Buses Not Running Labor Day
September 2, 1998: The Mountain Line Transit Authority would like to remind riders that there will be no bus service on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, September 8.
Mountain Line Goes Multi-Modal
August 25, 1998: The Mountain Line Transit Authority is pleased to announce the availability of bicycle racks on all of its fixed route buses. These new bike racks are user friendly and they will hold two bikes at a time. With these new bike racks, riders can now take their bikes to area parks or their favorite trail and not worry about heavily congested streets or unsafe road crossings.
The original concept behind the bike racks was based on Mountain Line's new location at the Garrett Street Depot. Mountain Line plans to begin operations from the Depot in January 1999 and construction on the Caperton Trail is slated to begin in 1999. This ideal location will allow trail users to catch the bus, take their bike and enjoy the Trail without running the hazards of busy streets or trying to find a convenient parking space.
Morgantown residents and visitors may notice bicycles in the bus racks over the next few days. Wamsley's Cycles has graciously contributed bicycles to demonstrate the operation of the new bike racks and to let the public see how the bike racks work. So check out the new bike racks, get a bus schedule from a driver or on the internet (www.busride.org) and plan your next bike outing with Mountain Line. We'll keep the air conditioners running.
This page is updated regularly to keep you informed. Please check back later. Thank you.