On Thursday, the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission board adopted a comprehensive plan to enhance public transit in the 15-county region that includes Chattooga County and the surrounding area.

The plan, developed with input from the Georgia Department of Transportation and Modern Mobility Partners, includes short- and long-term strategies to improve services. The plan aims to address the inconsistent and limited public transportation currently available, focusing on providing services to senior citizens and establishing a regional commuter van pool program to meet growing transit needs. Key steps outlined in the plan include hiring a regional mobility manager and forming a transit coordinating committee to develop a financial business case for proposed services.

The plan also emphasizes collaboration with GDOT to raise awareness of transportation options. Transit issues were underscored as a priority during a presentation by the Area Agency on Aging, which noted transportation as a top-five priority in their needs assessment, along with affordable housing, Medicare assistance, and meal programs. The agency is conducting public hearings on aging services, with upcoming sessions scheduled for October 28 and November 12.