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PDRTA presents transit study showing ridership growth to 525,000, urges higher local subsidy
Summary
PDRTA director Don Strickland summarized a new transit study showing projected ridership of 525,000 trips and highlighted fleet aging and partnership opportunities; he requested greater local funding to expand service hours and routes.
Don Strickland, director of the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority, told the county council that a recent transit study showed ridership growth from about 400,000 to a projected 525,000 trips this year and said workforce trips made up the largest share of demand.
"This year, 525,000 projected ridership," Strickland said, noting about 315,000 of those trips originate in Florence County and that workforce travel accounts for a significant portion. He described challenges: 75% of the fleet has exceeded useful life, local subsidy for PDRTA is about 11% compared with roughly 50% among peer RTAs, and demand‑response and paratransit needs persist for rural areas. Strickland cited recent grants (e.g., CHC grant) and regional partnerships (Southeast Crescent Regional Commission) as opportunities to expand service.
Strickland outlined projects including an intermodal center pre‑engineering study, expanded route planning toward employment centers, and service connections to Harvest Hope food pantry. He said the authority’s budget request for Florence County would increase the county’s share of PDRTA funding to support expanded service hours and route extensions.
