Bluff Area Transit Service is offering free rides now until Saturday in an effort to help in the wake of local flooding.
BATS is managed by Southeast Missouri Transportation Service and operates two busses and four routes to the most popular destinations in Poplar Bluff. Regular stops include Walmart, Three Rivers College, Save-A-Lot, Twin Towers, hospitals, the industrial park and many others.
"Today through Saturday we are offering all trips on the Bluff Area Transit routes for free. That is all riders regardless of where they are being picked up and where they are going," Steve Bush, SMTS Regional Manager said.
SMTS offered resources to emergency management agencies in the city when flooding caused voluntary evacuations, helping get many residents out of floodwater-compromised homes. The service also will continue to help displaced residents at the Black River Coliseum.
"So yesterday we helped people evacuate and get into the coliseum at no charge and at this point we continue to offer free assistance for anybody at the coliseum that needs accessible transportation to another location here in town that can't ride the city bus," Bush said.
The majority of SMTS's funding is through the Missouri Department of Transportation's 5311 program at 50 percent of the actual expense they incur and SMTS is required to generate enough local revenue to support the other 50 percent of these expenses.
Bush said the free ride service through Saturday is the service's way of showing appreciation to the community in its time of need.
"We see a need in town right now and this is a good way for us to give back to the community," he said.
A complete fare and route schedule is available at www.ridesmts.org. More information is available at 573-785-2928 or toll free 800-392-0754.