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Statesboro transit wins Jordan Transit Association performance award
Summary
Statesboro officials and transit staff accepted a 2024 performance award from the Jordan Transit Association and described recent ridership growth and plans to expand routes and fleet.
Statesboro's transit system received a 2024 performance award from the Jordan Transit Association during a presentation at the City Council meeting, city officials and transit staff said.
Council members and staff said the award recognizes the system's rapid ridership growth since launch and supports plans to add stops, hire a consultant to study further improvements and expand the fleet.
John Washington, transit manager, said he has coordinated operations with CRC and is preparing for a planned "full bus expansion." "So far I've been coordinating with CRC to make sure everything runs properly. I'm looking forward to the changes that we're making, for the upcoming expansion, for the full bus expansion," Washington said. He added the system recently added stops for the food bank and the Summit and said staff are looking to hire a consultant to recommend further transit improvements.
Jimmy Green of CRC praised Statesboro's operation and staff. "This has been one of the best transitions that I've been through," Green said, noting he has run other transit operations and calling Statesboro's staff and management exemplary.
Officials said the system began operations in May 2023 and has carried 27,417 riders since its start. Staff described the current fleet as four buses and said the system needs to expand to eight buses to maintain on-time service while meeting special pickup requests. Council and staff said the city is awaiting four additional buses; staff reported they expect delivery "by the 15th" but did not specify the month.
Richard Smiley and Kara Bomet of the public works department were recognized for building shelters, installing signage and ensuring Americans with Disabilities Act compliance at stop locations. "We built every one of those bus shelters from scratch'from pouring concrete to erecting the structures," Smiley said.
The presentation framed the program as a successful pilot that has outperformed other small systems in the state, and staff said the award reflects that performance as the city prepares to widen service area and routes.
City leaders said the award and the planned consultant study will inform next steps for route changes and fleet purchases but did not announce firm dates for implementation or funding sources for additional buses.
