New Valley bus route celebrated

By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
Washington County Transportation Authority celebrated its new Mon Valley bus route with a commencement ceremony Wednesday.
The daily route, which began running April 29, connects Monongahela to downtown Washington, Pa., and includes stops at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino and Tanger Outlets.
Wednesday’s ceremony was held on the front lawn of Washington County Housing Authority’s Monongahela Manor on Main Street, where Freedom Transit’s first stop on the route is located.
Manor residents joined authority officials, as well as city, county and state legislators to celebrate the grand opening with refreshments and a ribbon cutting. Officials perfectly timed the ribbon cutting to coincide with the bus’ arrival at the manor stop.
Authority Executive Director Sheila Gombita said she hopes manor residents will take advantage of the new route.
“We were able to line up the schedules with existing routes for connections to easily be made right here at Monongahela Manor,” Gombita said, adding Mon Valley citizens who use the Mon Valley Transit Authority in Belle Vernon, Monessen, Charleroi and Donora will also have access to the new route through connecting stops.
The project is the result of a strategic planning process initiated last year by the transportation authority’s board of directors. The process included gathering feedback from residents and legislators who represent Mon Valley constituents.
“We kept hearing that there were no really affordable options for people to get from the Mon Valley to the county seat in Washington,” Gombita said. “The only way that you could really do that was by taking a Mon Valley bus here from Monongahela into Pittsburgh, then take one of our buses down into Washington. It was almost an entire day to do that just one way.”
She said the authority also “redesigned” some of its underutilized services to be able to afford the new route, remaining as fiscally responsible as possible.
Authority board Chairman Rich Shriver said Wednesday was a “great day for Washington County residents” and commended Washington County commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan, Larry Maggi and Harlan Shober for helping to bring the project to fruition.
Other elected officials in attendance included Monongahela Mayor Bob Kepics, Washington City Councilman Joe Manning, state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, and state Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township.
“The new service would not be possible without their support, as well as the financial investment from the county,” Gombita said. “Investment in infrastructure like public transit is critical for the success of our county. It connects people and grows our communities. It fosters independence, productivity, health, employment and economic development.”
For every $1 invested in public transit, $4 is generated in return, Gombita added.

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