Lawrence, Ind., and Columbus are approximately 500 miles apart. While Lawrence has twice the population of the Friendly City and is a suburb of the sprawling Indianapolis, the two cities will soon have something in common — a mass transportation system from the same provider.
Lawrence Transit System has been given approval by the Columbus City Council to bring three buses to the area. More buses are expected to arrive after contracts are signed. The council gave the bus line its unanimous support.
Dorothy Dowdell, Lawrence Transit System Director of Columbus Operations, said the system will be an asset to the citizens of Columbus.
“All we are asking the city to do is provide some in-kind services and help get some federal and state grants,” Dowdell said. “We plan to create a transit board made up of Columbus citizens. With all of the jobs it will create, I think the transit system will be a great industry for Columbus.”
Dowdell said the system should create 50-75 jobs once it is fully implemented.
“We will have immediate positions available for drivers,” she said. “This requires a Class B CDL and starting pay will be $15 an hour. Additional positions will be available later. Interested parties should apply immediately at lawrencetransitsystem.org.”
Travis Jones, the city’s director of federal programs, said the system could serve more than just people within the city limits, extending to students and visitors to Columbus.
“(Ward 6 Councilman) Bill Gavin and I have had a meeting with some of the administrators at (East Mississippi Community College) about establishing transportation back and forth to the campus,” Jones said. “We also hope to get a shuttle service from the airport to the hotels in Columbus. This thing is do-able. Lawrence Transit System has already talked to Waters Truck and Tractor about storing the buses and they are in talks with Waters to do the maintenance on the buses. The owner of the company wants to talk to each of the councilmen individually about where will be the best pick up places for the bus service.”
Bus fare for the Indiana service is $3 for a one-way ride. Dowdell said the fares for the Columbus line have not been set but assured the council the rates would be “competitive.”
At a previous council meeting, Jones told the council the in-kind services requested by Lawrence Transit System will include some signage and benches. The service hopes to bring 10 buses to the area after the contracts are signed and the final details are discussed.
Other council measures approved during Tuesday’s meeting:
n Claude Simpson was appointed to the municipal election commission.
n Eulalie Hazard Davis was appointed to a five-year term on the Columbus-Lowndes Library Board.
n Ralph McClain was re-appointed to the board of adjustments and appeals of development codes.
n Columbus Police Department Chief Selvain McQueen was given approval to promote three officers to the rank of corporal. Pay for the promotions will start Oct. 1.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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