P
assengers who use Kanawha Regional Transportation (KRT) buses in the Clendenin area now have a Saturday service option thanks to a new pilot program.
The Charleston-based public transportation agency KRT began offering Saturday service between Clendenin's Main Street and the Kroger at the Crossings Mall on March 15.
"KRT will begin a pilot bus route on Saturdays through its KRT Plus program," officials said in a statement.
KRT Plus vehicles are smaller shuttles that transport passengers within a specified zone. While most buses in the KRT Plus fleet provide on-demand service, the Saturday bus in Clendenin will pick passengers up at a set location and time.
"The shuttle will pick up at 10 a.m. at Maywood Avenue and Main Street, and take passengers to the Kroger at the Crossings Mall," officials said in the statement. "KRT will pick up at 12:30 p.m. at Kroger and return passengers to the Maywood and Main Street intersection."
The Saturday service in Clendenin is currently being tested for viability. Representatives said data from the KRT Plus shuttle will be tracked and transportation officials will re-evaluate the service on a month-to-month basis.
Currently, KRT offers weekday service between Charleston and Clendenin with stops at the Crossing Mall. The number of runs on the Clendenin route was reduced and Saturday service to town was eliminated when the public transportation agency implemented county-wide route changes in February.
KRT's Route 23 bus leaves Clendenin's Maywood Avenue going to the Crossing Mall at 6:40 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 3:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Monday through Friday. The route leaves the Crossing Mall headed toward Clendenin at 6 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Transportation officials said the new Saturday trips via the KRT Plus shuttle were implemented as "an effort to better serve our Clendenin passengers."
Locals have voiced their appreciation for the pilot program.
"This is great news for Clendenin passengers," one resident wrote in response to the announcement on the Town of Clendenin Facebook page. At the time of this writing, more than 145 accounts have liked the post, which has been shared 123 times.
