Columbus has approved an interlocal agreement with the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority to provide transportation for local employees.
In early 2017, a committee made up of Mayor Jim Lienhoop, several city department heads, employers, staffing agencies, social service providers, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Economic Development and community stakeholders gathered to discuss employee transportation solutions. Based on those discussions, a bus route to Woodside Industrial area in Walesboro was identified as a need.
The vanpool program, expected to begin in the next several months, will be managed by CIRTA, which operates a ride-share service including vanpools in nine central Indiana counties.
A vanpool consists of five to 15 people commuting from a similar area to similar destinations each workday. They are designed to serve locations throughout the community, cover all shifts at area industries and accommodate workers who favor ride-sharing or those who lack reliable transportation.
The cost of renting and operating the vans will be shared by the city, employers and other sponsors and riders, according to a news release.
For more on this story, see an upcoming edition of The Republic.
