More
options are now available for people traveling on Fridays between Boone and
Charlotte on the Mountaineer North-South intercity bus route.
Earlier this
month, the operator of the route, Horizon Coach Lines, began offering an
additional round-trip run on Fridays to better accommodate riders.
The
Mountaineer North-South makes stops in Boone, Lenoir, Newton-Conover,
Lincolnton, Gastonia and Charlotte. The route currently operates the following
schedule year round, seven days a week:
- Departs Appalachian State University at 9:15 a.m.
- Arrives in Charlotte at 12:50 p.m.
- Departs Charlotte at 6 p.m.
- Arrives at ASU at 9:35 p.m.
In
addition to the above schedule, the Mountaineer North-South will also run the
following schedule on Fridays during ASU's Spring 2013, Fall 2013 and Spring
2014 semesters:
- Departs Charlotte at 2 p.m.
- Arrives at ASU at 5:35 p.m.
- Departs ASU at 7:15 p.m.
- Arrives in Charlotte at 10:50 p.m.
By
including the additional run on Fridays, students and other riders from the
Boone area are able to travel to Charlotte or other points south later in the
day. Riders from Charlotte are also able to travel to the Boone area or other
points north earlier on Fridays.
The
N.C. Board of Transportation at their November 2012 meeting approved $235,193
to Horizon Coach Lines for operation of the additional Friday run, as well as
continued operation of the route through June 30, 2014. These state funds match
$235,193 in federal funds, totaling $470,386.
Intercity
bus services are fixed-route, scheduled services that provide long-distance
transportation between North Carolina cities, as well as connections to the
national intercity bus system. More than 10,000 riders have used the
Mountaineer North-South since it began in October of 2010. For more information
on the Mountaineer North-South, visit www.horizoncoachnc.com.
The
NCDOT Public Transportation Division
awards grant funds to local public transportation systems. These grants enable
systems to provide people in all 100 counties access to education, job
opportunities and health care.
For
more information on grant programs through the Public Transportation Division
of NCDOT, as well as transit systems that serve the public throughout the
state, visit www.ncdot.gov/nctransit.
Copyright 2013 WBTV. All rights reserved.
