Connect Douglas Won't Run Christmas Or New Year's Day

DOUGLASVILLE, GA - The county's bus service will not run Christmas or New Year's day.

The Christmas Eve operating schedule for Connect Douglas will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, the new bus system will operate on its usual schedule from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All schedules apply to fixed route, para-transit and flex services.

The county commissioners approved allowing free rides this month as a gift to residents for supporting the fledgling system.

Standard fare - $2.50, or $1 for senior adults, students and individuals with a disability- payments will resume on January 2.

Since the fixed route, paratransit and flex services started June 20, ridership has steadily increased. The number of people using Connect Douglas has grown each month. During the October-November period, Connect Douglas averaged 105 boardings per day.

"We hope that by offering the free rides, we will make it easier for some people to do their Christmas shopping," Watson said earlier this month.

Connect Douglas is a commuter-oriented program that operates work-trip vanpools, offers transportation assistance to senior adults and disabled individuals, provides carpool-matching assistance, builds and maintains commuter facilities and participates in transit and public transportation planning and marketing.

The county commission voted in 2018 to accept a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant. The county used it to set up Connect Douglas, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.
The Connect Douglas service uses 14 mini buses to run along four fixed routes on a regular loop, primarily in the east and northeast parts of the county. The fixed-route bus service began this year.

Connect Douglas offices are in the Douglas County Transportation Center at 8800 Dorris Road in Douglasville. The Transportation Center is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 770-949-7665, and the e-mail address is connectdouglas@co.douglas.ga.us.

Connect Douglas services operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For schedule and pick-up locations information, go to www.connectdouglas.com, or call 770-9949-7665, Option 5.