Bus system servicing local area

NORWALK — A statewide busing system connecting people to metropolitan areas nationwide intends to service the local area — including Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties — real soon. Q: What is it? A: GoBus, a federally funded intercity bus service overseen by the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action's Transportation Division, connects Ohio's rural residents with urban centers and beyond. A public service overseen by the Ohio Department of Transportation, it does work with private partners on this initiative. It "achieves this goal by coordinating with Greyhound Lines, Barons Bus Lines, John Glenn Columbus International Airport and other national and local transportation services," according to an organizational statement. "To provide the best public transportation experience in Ohio, GoBus provides passengers with first-class amenities and (handicap) accessibility on board the deluxe, 50-passenger motor coaches while keeping fares affordable by using a mileage-based fare structure. We strive to provide safe, reliable and affordable transportation to all." Q: Where does it go? A: GoBus today serves Ohio's three largest cities — Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus — making many other stops across several smaller Buckeye State cities. Most recently, those at GoBus recently revealed the schedule and stops for its Toledo-to-Ashtabula route, which includes Fremont, Port Clinton, Norwalk and Sandusky. This route, serving the local area, should begin on March 2. On this route, depending on the direction, service lines beyond this one can take passengers to, among other places, Atlanta, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville and Washington, D.C. Q: How much is it? A: Prices are based upon the distance that is being traveled. Ticket base fares range as low as $5 and up to $30 People can find the price for a specific trip by calling 888-954-6287 or visiting booking.ridegobus.com. Tickets for this route should go on sale this week. Q: Why is it happening? A: James Stacey, Sandusky's transit administrator, broke down what people can expect: • The background: The Ohio Department of Transportation "conducted an intercity bus needs assessment study. This report documents the existing services and how they have changed in the wake of the travel impacts of the COVID pandemic, inventories the bus stop facilities, reviews the performance of the existing services, examines the demand for potential new or expansion services and provides estimates of priority capital needs. The results of that study showed the need to create an intercity bus system." • The system: "GoBus is a type of intercity bus system primarily aimed at linking rural or smaller communities to larger cities. The Federal Transit Administration defines intercity bus service as 'regularly scheduled bus service for the general public operating with limited stops over fixed routes connecting two or more urban areas not in close proximity, which has the capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers and which makes meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more distant points if such service is available. To combat the need for intercity travel, (the state transportation department) created GoBus." • The transporters: "GoBus is part of Ohio's Intercity Bus Network. Ohio's Intercity Bus Network includes routes operated by Greyhound Lines, Flixbus, Barons Bus and GoBus services funded by (the state transportation department) utilizing" federal funding. • The locations: "GoBus' five routes connect 33 rural cities with five urbanized areas. The expansion schedule has not been released but will coincide with a public transportation and Greyhound schedules. As part of the expansion, a new Toledo-to-Ashtabula route will be created that includes Sandusky." • The local importance: "GoBus increases the accessibility to the city of Sandusky. Bringing GoBus to Sandusky is important because it would give students and families a reliable, affordable way to travel to nearby cities for college, jobs, medical appointments and activities. Sandusky sits in a transportation gap between Toledo and Cleveland. A GoBus stop would make it easier for people to get to school or work, help seasonal workers reach local attractions, like Cedar Point, and connect our community to more opportunities across Ohio." People can visit ridegobus.com for more information. See the schedule Here's an initial and partial look at the Toledo-to-Ashtabula route, focusing on stops in the local area: stops in several local cities: Toledo to Ashtabula • Fremont — 9:33 a.m. arrival at/9:38 a.m. departure from the YMCA of Sandusky County, 1000 North St. • Port Clinton — 10 a.m. arrival at/10:05 a.m. departure from Waterworks Park, 5 Jefferson St. • Sandusky — 10:28 a.m. arrival at/10:33 a.m. departure from Amtrak Station, 1200 N. Depot St. • Norwalk — 11:03 a.m. arrival at/11:08 a.m. departure from old firehouse curb cut, 42 Whittlesey Ave. Ashtabula to Toledo (same locations) • Norwalk — 1:01 p.m. arrival at/1:06 p.m. departure from • Sandusky — 1:36 p.m. arrival at/1:41 p.m. departure from • Port Clinton — 2:04 p.m. arrival at/2:09 p.m. departure from • Fremont — 2:31 p.m. arrival at/2:36 p.m. departure from Note: Depending on the direction, service lines beyond this one can take passengers to, among other places, Atlanta, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville and Washington, D.C.