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Giles Health group asks Pearisburg for $3,800 local match for proposed micro-transit pilot
Summary
Helen Wallace of Giles Health & Family Center asked Pearisburg to contribute $3,800 as the town’s share of an 80/20 match for a proposed Micro Transit System serving Narrows/Rich Creek and Pearisburg/Pembroke; the regional grant application would fund weekday service with potential weekend expansion if funded.
Helen Wallace, representing the Giles Health & Family Center, told the Pearisburg Town Council on April 14 that the organization will apply to the Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation for a Micro Transit System linking Narrows/Rich Creek and Pearisburg/Pembroke and asked the town to consider a $3,800 local match.
Wallace said the grant requires an 80/20 match, with the 20 percent provided locally, renewable annually for up to three years, and that the proposed service hours would be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with potential Saturday service contingent on additional funding. She referenced a Carilion needs assessment for the southwestern portion of Giles County used in a 2024 feasibility study and said Giles County supports the project.
Councilmember Zach Smith asked about pickup and drop‑off signage; Wallace said the state will evaluate sites for ADA accessibility and that the program will include site requirements. Town Manager Adam Poser asked about utilization goals and performance metrics; Wallace said metrics will be established if the grant is awarded and that the application is still pending. Several council members expressed support for the concept as a way to improve access to employment and education.
The request was made during the meeting’s public comment period; no formal vote on the town contribution was recorded in the minutes. The timeline in staff work and the grant award process suggests a potential launch window between fall 2026 and January 2027 if the application is successful.
