Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The Suwannee Valley Transit Authority is one of the best-kept secrets in Suwannee Valley. "Suwannee Valley Transit Authority is committed to providing safe and reliable paratransit transportation to the public in Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee Counties." The SVTA was established in 1972. A federal grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity provided the money. The project began with four Florida counties: Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette. This was a significant undertaking, especially considering the extensive area that needed to be covered.
The authority began with four 10-passenger vans and three school buses. Columbia County was roughly 783 square miles and had a population of 29,375. Hamilton County covered 514 square miles, Lafayette County covered 548 miles, and Suwannee approximately 685 miles. This was a huge task toto ask of the authority, but they approached it with confidence, and now, over 50 years later, the authority is still running.
The motto of SVTA is "serve the people of Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee Counties by providing a reliable, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets the needs of our citizens and enhances the quality of living today and into the future." They are ready to provide services for anyone in need in their coverage area. "If you need a ride, call us. We can help. We can take you to your doctor's appointment, work or a trip to the local grocery store. Suwannee Valley Transit Authority services are available Monday through Friday."
Recently, the SVTA has been focused on growing its ridership. One way that they are doing that is with their new buses. They recently acquired five new buses,, which are being custom-wrapped. The new design makes it obvious that the SVTA is available and operating within the counties.
Additionally, the SVTA offers paratransit, which is "a specialized door-to-door service normally provided in a demand-responsive mode (i.e., the person must make a telephone call to arrange service). The goal of the paratransit program is to ensure that all Americans have access to transit to meet basic mobility needs." For those interested in using the SVTA, call (386) 362-5332 or (386) 362-7433 to schedule transportation. If you are outside of Suwannee County or using a landline, call the toll-free number at 1 (800) 258-7267. It should be noted that someone should call three business days in advance; this excludes weekends and holidays. Also, if you are Medicaid eligible, call your HMO provider directly to schedule transportation. To learn more about the SVTA, visit RideSVTA.com or email Administrator Candice Kennon at candice.kennon@ridesvta.com. "We are here, happy, ready and willing to serve you," Kennon said.