Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Program Established

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians has received funding from the Federal Transit Administration to establish the Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Program. The purpose of the Tribal Transit Program is to enhance access to transportation within the Keetoowah Cherokee Indian Communities and to assist in development, improvement, and sustainability of transportation options in Indian Country.

Transportation will be available in the communities on schedules corresponding with dates of operation of area sub-offices. Also, the Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Program will coordinate non-emergency transportation to area hospitals and clinics by establishing a schedule of dates that such transportation will be available from each Keetoowah Cherokee Indian Community. “For instance, we will publish a schedule of dates that specified areas will have transportation available to clinics and hospitals. Then, residents in those areas can schedule their medical appointments accordingly. Pick up and drop off schedules will also be published so residents can make arrangements to be at designated pickup points to catch the busses to their appointments.” said Bryan Shade, Federal Programs Director for the United Keetoowah Band.

The Tribe recently completed the purchase of two transit busses and is completing the process of hiring drivers and dispatchers with plans of purchasing additional passenger transport vehicles in the near future. Transit operations are expected to begin in late January, 2010.

A nominal fare will be collected for all passengers as a condition of the Federal Transit Administration program in order to sustain operations. A passenger fare and operations schedule and list of bus stops will be published in the February 2010 addition of Keetoowah Cherokee News and will be posted on the UKB website as soon as it becomes available.

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