<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0RFGIh_16oghknA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0RFGIh_16oghknA00" width="1920" height="1366" ><figcaption>Alderman-at-Large James Carson Waltman and State Rep. Scott Bounds spoke with Transit Services Assistant Director Tom Perkins after the Transportation Awareness Program held Thursday at the Depot.</figcaption></figure>A Transportation Awareness Program was held Thursday morning at the Depot, where representatives from Philadelphia Transit, MDOT, and local elected officials spoke about the importance of transportation in the region.Philadelphia Transit, Choctaw Transit, and Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit were among the organizations in attendance. Others in the Eztag region, including Noxubee Transit and East Central Planning and Development, were unable to attend.“In our area in Mississippi, transportation is not just a convenience,” said Philadelphia Transit Project Director Andrea Mitchell. “It is independence. It is accessible. It is opportunity.”For fiscal year 2025, Philadelphia Transit alone recorded 20,269 total passengers, including 18,585 general public riders, 387 elderly riders, and 4,154 disabled riders. Trip breakdowns showed 4,804 medical trips, 7,871 nutrition trips, 5,601 shopping/personal trips, 623 social services trips, 452 employment trips, 735 Medicaid trips, and 183 education/training trips.Mitchell said Philadelphia Transit is proud to partner with a wide network of regional providers who help fill critical transportation gaps across multiple counties and communities.“Rural transportation only works when we work together, and we are grateful to share this mission with you,” she said.State Sen. Lane Taylor followed, thanking the organizations present for their service to the community.“What y’all do is very important,” Taylor said. “It’s a way for people to be able to continue doing their day-to-day activities like going to doctors, or even the simple things such as wanting to get their grandkids something for Christmas.”Taylor said that the state legislature remains committed to supporting local transit systems.“The community sees you, we see your efforts, and we are very thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside you in our communities,” he said.State Rep. Scott Bounds told the audience that the state recognizes the work transit organizations perform and values their presence in the community.“I’m honored to have been able to work with Andrea and her team for the last couple years to get legislation passed that allows cities and the county to contribute to their calls,” he said. “I give kudos to this county and city leadership for moving that forward.”He then pointed to recent transportation upgrades in the area, including the repaving of Main Street and Beacon Street and the ongoing Highway 19 four-lane project from Philadelphia to House, which is now in its final phase from Tucker to House.“Close to $150 million was invested by the state on that one project alone in the last five years,” Bounds said. “It makes it safer for everybody who’s traveling that route, but it also opens us up from an economic development standpoint. We really think that’s going to be a game changer for the local area with Highway 19.”Bounds praised MDOT’s progress on the $9 million roundabout project, calling it the most efficient solution for an area that has been very convoluted for many years. MDOT Deputy Director Roderick Bailey then spoke about public transportation efforts statewide.“At MDOT, we fund transit providers throughout the state, but we don’t cover all 82 counties,” Bailey said. “There are some gaps, particularly on the eastern side along the Highway 45 corridor.”Bailey said that MDOT supports transit systems through federal funding, though services require a local match.“We want to encourage local communities to help support transportation within this area,” he said. “We appreciate all that has been done for Philadelphia Transit, but we want to continue to push the need for transportation throughout the state.”He spoke of how important rural transit programs are to communities where there are long distances between people and essential services.“Mississippi is a very rural state,” he said. “It’s hard to get from one place to the next when we have medical services that are further out from where people live.”“Together we make a difference,” Bailey added. “We need all the local support that we can get. It’s all about us working together and meeting challenges head on to fill those gaps that are out there.”Mitchell closed the program with a reminder of the purpose behind the work.“Let us remember that every ride we provide is more than just a trip. It’s someone’s independence and connectivity to their community,” she said. “Together, with our regional partners, local officials, and leaders at MDOT, we will continue strengthening transportation across rural Mississippi.”</div></body>

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A Transportation Awareness Program was held Thursday morning at the Depot, where representatives from Philadelphia Transit, MDOT, and local elected officials spoke about the importance of transportation in the region. Philadelphia Transit, Choctaw Transit, and Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit were among the organizations in attendance. Others in the Eztag region,...

Local leaders celebrate transit progress, call for more support

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A Transportation Awareness Program was held Thursday morning at the Depot, where representatives from Philadelphia Transit, MDOT, and local elected officia

Local leaders celebrate transit progress, call for more support

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