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Regional planner presents transit development update; commissioners approve Section 5311 service agreement
Summary
Three Rivers Regional Commission briefed Meriwether County on a 20-year transit plan update; commissioners approved a Section 5311 agreement for FY 2026 obligating the county up to $25,900 for operations.
Three Rivers Regional Commission planner Stephanie Wagner presented Meriwether County with a Transit Development Plan (TDP) update March 24, outlining a 20-year planning horizon and a public outreach process to inform short-, mid- and long-term transit goals. Wagner said the update is required every five years under Georgia Department of Transportation guidance and is funded in part through a 5304 planning grant the commission secured to assist local counties.
"Transit development plans analyze current conditions and identify transit needs to inform future planning for your community," Wagner said, describing demand-response service in the county and noting the system provided 6,597 trips in fiscal year 2025 (a packet typographical variance was corrected during the presentation).
Commissioners discussed the proposed timeline: stakeholder meetings and public outreach over the coming months with a draft for board review in June and potential adoption consideration in July.
Following the presentation the board considered and approved a Section 5311 public transportation service agreement with the Three Rivers Regional Commission covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. The county’s maximum financial obligation for the contract term is $25,900 to cover operating and administrative expenses; no additional vehicle matching funds are required. The agreement will be signed by the chair or vice chair after the necessary budget amendment is processed.
Staff said the amount was omitted from the adopted budget and a budget amendment will be brought back to formally record the expenditure. The commission emphasized public participation and stakeholder interviews as key components of the TDP update.
