Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Program Established

The United Keetoowah Band of CherokeeIndians has received funding from the FederalTransit Administration to establish the KeetoowahCherokee Tribal Transit Program. The purpose ofthe Tribal Transit Program is to enhance access totransportation within the Keetoowah Cherokee IndianCommunities and to assist in development,improvement, and sustainability of transportationoptions in Indian Country.

Transportation will be available in thecommunities on schedulescorresponding with datesof operation of area sub-offices.Also, the KeetoowahCherokee Tribal TransitProgram will coordinatenon-emergency transportationto area hospitalsand clinics by establishinga schedule of dates that such transportation willbe available from each Keetoowah Cherokee IndianCommunity. “For instance, we will publisha schedule of dates that specified areas will havetransportation available to clinics and hospitals.Then, residents in those areas can schedule theirmedical appointments accordingly. Pick up anddrop off schedules will also be published so residentscan make arrangements to be at designatedpickup points to catch the busses to their appointments.”said Bryan Shade, Federal Programs Directorfor the United Keetoowah Band.

The Tribe recently completed the purchaseof two transit busses and is completing the processof hiring drivers and dispatchers with plans of purchasingadditional passenger transport vehicles inthe near future. Transit operations are expected tobegin in late January, 2010.

A nominal fare will be collected for allpassengers as a condition of the Federal TransitAdministration programin order to sustain operations.A passenger fareand operations scheduleand list of bus stopswill be published in theFebruary 2010 additionof Keetoowah CherokeeNews and will be postedon the UKB website as soon as it becomes available.

For more information, visit the officialsite of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokeesat www.unitedkeetoowahband.org or call theKeetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit office at (918)772-4350.