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Coast RTA secures $25.5M federal grant; plans new 21.5-acre maintenance facility and service increases to North Myrtle Beach
Summary
Coast RTA told the North Myrtle Beach City Council it won a $25.5 million FTA Low-No grant to help build a new operations and maintenance facility, add buses and restore service beginning June 1, including doubling frequency on Route 17 to 60-minute service into North Myrtle Beach.
Coast RTA representatives told the North Myrtle Beach City Council that the agency has been awarded a Federal Transit Administration Low-No grant of $25.5 million to support a new operations and maintenance campus and additional buses.
"In November, we received notice that we were awarded a, low no, emission grant from Federal Transit Administration for 25 and a half million dollars," the presenter said, citing federal funding that will be paired with local match dollars to build two facilities on a 21.5-acre site shared with the city of Myrtle Beach.
The presentation described plans to replace aging vehicles with newer models, including several 2021 New Flyer coaches and five additional buses funded through the grant. The presenter said the agency operates 21 buses and 23 small vehicles now and is planning capacity for up to 45 large buses and 60 small buses at the new site.
Coast RTA also outlined service changes effective June 1 intended to recover riders lost after earlier service cuts. The agency said it will restore higher-frequency service on multiple routes and specifically cited Route 17 between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, currently operating every two hours, which will move to 60-minute service to improve circulation along Ocean Boulevard and to Barefoot Landing.
Council members thanked the presenter and asked whether service could be extended to additional locations, including Seacoast and hospital access points. The presenter said public meetings had generated feedback and that some alignments might be adjusted before implementation.
The agency said it expects to begin construction work in the fall (no exact opening date was given) and emphasized that some details, including final design approvals and SCDOT sign-offs for certain off-site improvements, remain subject to engineering review and permitting.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation but acknowledged the regional benefit of the federal award and the planned service restoration.
