Public transit in Kingsport and/or the Tri-Cities area? (Johnson City: neighborhoods, university)

[Samantha Hastings]

Greetings All:


I noted with interest that Johnson City has what seems to be a limited public transit system in place. Does Kingsport also offer some form of public transit, and if not, will the town be considering public transit as a viable option in the future? What about a system that connects the Tri-Cities together?


Thanks so much for all of your help with my query.


Sam

[DubbleT]

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Not personally familiar with it. Haven't heard of any public transit that connects the three cities but I don't use the bus systems so there may be something I'm not aware of.

[Samantha Hastings]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

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Not personally familiar with it. Haven't heard of any public transit that connects the three cities but I don't use the bus systems so there may be something I'm not aware of.

Thank you for posting this...it is quite helpful.


Sam

[Serious Conversation]

KATS takes people around Kingsport, and seems to do decent for getting from core urban neighborhoods to grocery stores and other essentials. I know JC has a bus system and I'd say Bristol does too.

I think there was discussion about public transit between the cities not that long ago, but I don't think anything will come of it.

[Samantha Hastings]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

KATS takes people around Kingsport, and seems to do decent for getting from core urban neighborhoods to grocery stores and other essentials. I know JC has a bus system and I'd say Bristol does too.

I think there was discussion about public transit between the cities not that long ago, but I don't think anything will come of it.

Thanks for posting. I used the link provided by the poster down-thread, and the KATS service seems to be a nice one for the folks living downtown who need transport to stores, medical services, pharmacies, etc. We had one in a town I lived in previously, and the elders in our community made good use of it. It also ran on a limited schedule and with limited hours, but it certainly was a boon for them in the form of having more independence without maintaining a car, along with freeing up their children from running some of their errands with them. The little vans that made up the public transport even came well-equipped for the handicapped, so that they could use it, also.


I was musing that, with the population numbers of the combined Tri-Cities area, along with the area becoming more popular as a retirement spot, and with the presence of the university system, if a combined public bus system was in the works, so thank you for responding to that.


Have a great day.


Sam

[rccrain]

For getting between cities, this non profit might be an option. I don't know anything about them other than I've seen their shuttle from time to time on I-26. http://www.seniorconnectkpt.org/service/net-trans/

[Samantha Hastings]

Originally Posted by rccrain

For getting between cities, this non profit might be an option. I don't know anything about them other than I've seen their shuttle from time to time on I-26. http://www.seniorconnectkpt.org/service/net-trans/

Thanks!

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by Samantha Hastings

Thanks for posting. I used the link provided by the poster down-thread, and the KATS service seems to be a nice one for the folks living downtown who need transport to stores, medical services, pharmacies, etc. We had one in a town I lived in previously, and the elders in our community made good use of it. It also ran on a limited schedule and with limited hours, but it certainly was a boon for them in the form of having more independence without maintaining a car, along with freeing up their children from running some of their errands with them. The little vans that made up the public transport even came well-equipped for the handicapped, so that they could use it, also.


I was musing that, with the population numbers of the combined Tri-Cities area, along with the area becoming more popular as a retirement spot, and with the presence of the university system, if a combined public bus system was in the works, so thank you for responding to that.


Have a great day.


Sam

You also have to consider the distance between the cities. The population of the Tri-Cities region is probably less than 500,000 total, and that's including some border counties in TN and southwest VA. The region just isn't densely populated enough, gas is cheap now, and I doubt ridership would be high enough for transit between the cities to be viable.

[Samantha Hastings]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

You also have to consider the distance between the cities. The population of the Tri-Cities region is probably less than 500,000 total, and that's including some border counties in TN and southwest VA. The region just isn't densely populated enough, gas is cheap now, and I doubt ridership would be high enough for transit between the cities to be viable.

Agreed.