Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority: This West Virginia Bus System is a Useful Entity

I began utilizing the Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority in Fairmont, West Virginia, last summer when I could no longer afford the costs associated with owning and insuring an automobile.

I was a very mobile individual during the last 20 years, so it was a big change when I realized that anywhere I needed to go from doctor visits to the grocery store required a trip to the bus line. My community did away with a taxi service more than a year ago.

The Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority has gone above and beyond to serve my needs. Other than the pure fact that the service is available because of a county levy vote that continues to pass every few years since the 1980s, I also benefit from a 'para transit' service available to me as a 'disabled' customer. Medicare does pay costs associated with driving me to dialysis several times each week.

In addition, the folks at the Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority have developed a rapport with me in such a way that results in finding a ride to do other things such as grocery store visits and trips to my doctor.

My impression on the system as a whole is a good one.

Everyday customers show their pleasure with the service, too. Evidence is shown there because of the comments people make to the drivers and the fact that the levy usually passes by a 2/3 majority. That was the case during the May 9 Primary recently when Marion County voters passed the measure again. Those who rely upon the FMCTA system can breathe easy again for the next four years.

Few can argue that there are many county and Fairmont residents, often the elderly, who are not able to rely on themselves to provide for private transportation. Because of the Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority, those people have transportation options six days each week, for rougly 12 hours per day.

If there were just two suggestions to improve the public service, it would be to add some more routes to the run and, perhaps, to extend the time of service.

But the Fairmont/Marion County Transit Authority serves me well, as it does I know for thousands of others in North Central West Virginia. I know I could not function without the bus that so effectively serves the greater Fairmont community and all
of Marion County.