Annual Reports

• 2010 Annual Report
• 2007/2008 Annual Report

TriCounty Link 2010 Annual Report

In operation since 1996, the TriCounty Link continues to research, plan, and implement affordable service improvements that provide access for rural customers in Dorchester, Charleston and Berkley Counties to jobs, medical facilities, schools, and shopping.

TriCounty Link prides itself on being a service-oriented public agency that connects people to the places they want to go.  Ridership doubled during the five-year period between FY 2004-2005 and FY 2008-2009, with the largest annual increase of 38 percent occurring between FY 2007-2008 and FY 2008-2009.  TriCounty Link has experienced an overall increase of 4 percent during the period FY 2008-2009 and FY 2009-2010, with the largest increases occurring on the Commuter Solutions Routes. 

Increases are attributed to several factors, including greater public awareness about the service, the success of the Commuter Solutions routes, and the public’s willingness to embrace public transportation as an affordable and pleasant alternative to sitting in traffic. The TriCounty Link staff works very hard to keep customers satisfied by listening to their suggestions and comments and continually telling them that their choice to ride on TriCounty Link buses is appreciated.

This reporting period includes exciting new capital improvements.  TriCounty Link has received fourteen new 14-passenger 4500 Series Starcraft vehicles and two 32-passenger 5500 Series Goshen vehicles.  Additionally, the renovation of the offices and maintenance facility at 305 Heatley Street began in May 2010. 

The renovation involves two phases with an expected completion slated for late November 2010.  Phase I is the complete renovation of the metal pre-engineered building in the rear of the lot.  Once completed (early August), that building will house the detail shop that keeps the buses clean and the PM shop where routine maintenance is performed.  Also in Phase I, an additional modular office has been brought on site and located near the existing modular office. That building will be utilized as the driver lounge once Phase II is completed.  In the interim, offices from the front building will be temporarily relocated to that building once Phase I is completed.  Newly designed wood decking and a handicapped ramp provide easy access to both modulars.  Phase II involves the complete renovation of the brick structure with an expanded office area including a conference room, renovated garage area for more detailed maintenance items, and a relocated and enlarged parts room. 

While other transit systems across the country have raised fares and cut services in an attempt to cope with gas price increases and the effects of the economic down turn, TriCounty Link has been able to do the reverse, implementing new routes and service improvements as well as offering free rides on both commuter and local Link buses.  Following are some of our important accomplishments during the reporting period:

• On September 2, 2008 the Link launched three new commuter routes in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties with free rides and prize drawings for passengers.  The new routes continue to provide more options for residents traveling to and from Ridgeville, Summerville, Moncks Corner and Goose Creek.  The new commuter routes were carefully planned to coordinate with the CARTA Express bus schedules and signaled another major cooperative effort between TriCounty Link and CARTA.  The new routes have proven to be very popular.  Ridership more than doubled during the first three months of operation, providing more than 11,225 passenger trips, an average of approximately 167 trips per day.  And, at the end of the 90-day introductory period, a Las Vegas vacation award package was presented to Crystal L. Owens, an Administrative Support Coordinator at the College of Charleston.   In addition to the Las Vegas trip, Ms. Owens also received a free annual pass.
• The new www.ridetricountylink.com was introduced in September 2008.  It is a user-friendly, colorful, and informative website that has been carefully designed to be easy to use and is very accessible for people with disabilities.  And, for the first time, customers have the option to order transit passes online by using check, credit card or PayPal. 
• Listening to suggestions made by customers and studying the area with the highest concentration of restaurants, apartment complexes and businesses lead to the August 2009 changes for the new Link-to-Lunch shuttle in Moncks Corner. The adjusted service expanded coverage to Stony Landing Road, Rembert C. Dennis Blvd., and Hwy. 52 with two buses traveling in opposite directions.  The changes allow customers to get to and from lunch quickly and are particularly useful for customers who ride TriCounty Link’s Commuter Solutions routes to work.  In addition to regular stops along the route, riders can stand at a safe location anywhere along the route, wave, and know that a bus will come along every 8 minutes to pick them up.  To celebrate the improvements, rides were free for a month and customers entered drawings to win free lunches from Moncks Corner restaurants.
• On October 12, 2009, TriCounty Link celebrated the first anniversary of the Commuter Solutions program and kicked off a fourth new route serving Cross, St. Stephens and Bonneau.  An event was held at the Santee Cooper park and ride lot in Moncks Corner where Linky, TriCounty Link’s big, green tree frog mascot, made his first public appearance at the celebration.   Several notable state and local dignitaries were on hand to voice their support for TriCounty Link’s service and its positive contributions to the Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester communities.  Of particular note, Santee Cooper president and chief executive officer Lonnie Carter was proud to recognize his company’s commuter benefits program and partnership with TriCounty Link.  “We see this partnership as a win-win-win,” he said.  “The environment wins because riding the bus saves on vehicle emissions.  The community wins by partnering with businesses.  Our employees win because they save on gas costs, vehicle wear-and-tear, and the stress of driving.  For all these reasons, Santee Cooper is pleased to help bring commuter bus service to the communities around Lake Moultrie.”  To celebrate the new commuter route, riders entered drawings for great prizes, culminating in the grand prize of a 42” flat screen television to be awarded in January 2010.
• The success of the Commuter Solutions program (ridership increased 37% in one year) was recognized nationally in October 2009.  At its annual convention, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) gave the program two first place awards. In addition, an excellence award was received from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation at the Rural Transportation Learning Conference.
• In November 2009, TriCounty Link once again demonstrated that it is a service-oriented agency committed to making quality improvements for customers by revising its bus schedule brochures and tweaking routes.  The actions followed a two-year review of the routing which resulted in identification of areas where routing was made more effective based on ridership data.  The new brochures reflect TriCounty Link’s efforts to make the routes more efficient and provide better customer information.  The brochures include a route map, timetable, and information to make the service easy to use.  All individual route maps are now combined into a new system map so users can easily see where the bus goes throughout the Charleston region.
• In addition to these improvements, TriCounty Link also implemented an innovative training program for bus operators by purchasing and renovating a 1995 bus for use as a dedicated training vehicle.  TriCounty Link has now achieved its goal of certifying all vehicle operators and has implemented a rotating training schedule to maintain their proficiency. 
• In November 2009 Moncks Corner customers got more great news when they learned that rides were now FREE on the Link-to-Lunch service.

Throughout this reporting period TriCounty Link increased efforts to reach out to the community with involvement in and appearances at local meetings, events and other venues.  

• In March 2010, TriCounty Link was front and center at the Black Expo held in the North Charleston Convention Center.  Radio station personality Geno Jones (Star 99.7) helped register participants for a chance to win one of the four annual bus passes awarded by TriCounty Link.
• On March 14, Linky and staff from TriCounty Link greeted literally hundreds of children and families who stopped by the TriCounty Link booth during the Kids Fair in Charleston.  Linky also joined Charleston Mayor Joe Riley on stage for a dance with more than 25 other mascots.  102 children entered the TriCounty Link’s “It’s Easy Being Green” coloring contest where winners where announced throughout the day. 
• TriCounty Link provided a FREE shuttle ride from the Dorchester County park-and-ride lot to Summerville Town Hall and the Flowertown Festival for three days in April 2010. Riding the convenient shuttle meant that approximately 880 attendees avoided the hassle of trying to find a parking place during one of the South’s largest festivals.  And of course, Linky hopped a ride to the festival and had his photo taken with many, many festival goers!
• At the 2010 Transportation Association of South Carolina conference, TriCounty Link was honored once again by being named the Best Rural Transportation Provider of 2010.  The prestigious award was presented to Executive Director Hutto by Deputy Secretary for Mass Transit Glennith Johnson.  Being recognized as the best rural system in the state is the result of a team effort.  TriCounty Link employees and board members deserve credit for their hard work and dedication to the customers they serve.
• On May 12, 2010, TriCounty Link joined the nation in celebrating National Transportation Week by offering free rides and holding events at park-and-ride lots where Linky and staff distributed cold water and cookies to riders as they got off the bus in the afternoon.
• TriCounty Link also joined forces with the Charleston County Department of Education to provide travel training to students from three John’s Island schools.  Middle and Elementary school children and their parents were invited to board the TriCounty Link buses on May 21 to receive instruction on how easy it is to use public transportation.  The students and their parents are participants in the county’s English as a Second Language curriculum.

This report couldn’t end without a special word about Linky.  Linky has proven to be one of the most popular additions to the TriCounty Link family.  Wherever he appears, he is a positive image for the TriCounty Link - and he leaves a lasting impression on children of all ages when they meet the big, green friendly mascot.  Linky has made numerous appearances since his introduction in the fall of 2009, including:

• The Martin Luther King Day parade (January 2010)
• The Black Expo (March 2010)
• 22nd Annual Kids Expo (March 2010)
• Flowertown Festival (March 2010)
• Earth Day Celebration (April 2010)
• National Transportation Week (May 2010)
• Buist Academy Field Day (June 2010)

And on June 17 2010, Linky and TriCounty Link joined the nation’s leaders in promoting the 5th Annual Dump the Pump Day.  Mayors throughout the tri-county region signed letters in support of a proclamation issued by the TriCounty Link Board of Directors recognizing the part that public transportation plays in helping Low Country residents save money, reduce congestion, and enhance economic opportunities in the region. Public officials left their cars at home and rode public transportation on June 17th.  City of Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. also issued a proclamation declaring June 17 Dump the Pump Day on all TriCounty Link fixed route vehicles.  Additionally, on the morning of the event, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey boarded a TriCounty Link bus and provided comments to the media.  TriCounty Link gave free rides on all its buses and offered riders a prize drawing with two bicycles given away as the grand prizes.

 

TriCounty Link 2007/2008 Report

The Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Rural Transportation Management Association (BCD-RTMA) changed its operating name in late 2007 to better describe the service it provides and to be more visible in the communities we serve.  Established in 1996, our system has grown from a one county service to one that is taking on the challenges of serving three counties more effectively.  Founded on the premise of being self-sustaining, TriCounty Link will celebrate its 12th birthday in July 2008.  That in itself is no small feat.  We have provided service over the years to produce cash flow, and with it has come a slow methodical expansion of service.  TriCounty Link enjoys a very positive working relationship with the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD-COG) and has benefited from services they offer.  Planning, financial accounting, use of their meeting area, and a line of credit, are just some of the things our COG has offered and contributed to our success as a transit provider. We cannot speak more highly of our relationship.  One “product” of this relationship is that TriCounty Link has experienced clean audits since its inception in 1996.  The BCD-COG has been a vital part of our well being, and we feel this relationship serves as an example to others.

During 2006/2007 a series of public involvement meetings sponsored by the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Rural Transportation Management Association (BCD-RTMA) produced responses from a cross section of the rural communities with the same theme; a critical need for more transportation options.   During the same period the BCD-RTMA also met with opinion leaders and stakeholders throughout the entire service area and found that most were very supportive of plans to expand transportation services to meet current demand and that created by the huge growth occurring in the Lowcountry.

Once the area transportation needs were identified, the BCD-RTMA held additional meetings to determine how best to improve services to rural residents.  The results of the meetings were analyzed in a study conducted by the URS Corporation and recommendations were made for implementing service to respond to area transportation needs.  The study also recommended an image makeover for the agency.   

Additionally, recognizing the importance of creating a more seamless transportation network, agency management approached the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) board of directors and requested approval of a transfer agreement that would allow customers to pay one fare each way when transferring between the rural and urban transportation systems.  With the January 2007 CARTA board approval the program was immediately implemented and has been very successful.

With the assistance of a small percentage of the Charleston County half-cent sales tax a new route was implemented serving the Highway 17 North corridor from Mt. Pleasant to McClellanville.  The new route was introduced in September 2007 in coordination with the unveiling of the agency’s new image and the BCD-RTMA became the TriCounty Link.  The new service was heavily promoted with distribution of posters and route information to churches and other strategic locations along the route.  A full color route brochure was designed using a route map, how-to-ride information and emphasizing the ease of connecting to the CARTA Express service and other routes. 

In October 2007 surveys distributed on board the McClellanville/Awendaw route indicated a large percentage of customers were using the Link to do their shopping, closely followed by trips to work and medical appointments.  Many who completed the surveys also requested weekend service and in response the agency implemented Saturday service in December 2007. 

In partnership with Live Five News, the TriCounty Link introduced the Saturday service at a stuff-a-bus event in the parking lot of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Mt. Pleasant.  To promote the new Saturday service flyers with bus schedule and toy-drive information were distributed throughout the community and coordinated with radio and print advertisements.  The all-day event included a live-remote radio broadcast and featured a voter registration table manned by members of the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area.  The event concluded with a live remote broadcast for the 6:00 p.m. news on Channel Five.

Charleston County Council’s commitment to providing half-cent sales tax revenue has also allowed the TriCounty Link to implement two routes on rural John’s Island.  The new routes were implemented on January 18, 2008 along two heavily traveled corridors.  The service not only connects residents with the urban system at Citadel Mall but also allows them to shop, visit the library, go to medical appointments, and run errands on the island.  Johns Island has a large Hispanic community which has been targeted with a Spanish version of the route brochure, posters and direct outreach through local churches and the Universal Latin News Spanish language newspaper.  As with the McClellanville/Awendaw route, all printed information emphasizes the unique coordination of services between the rural and urban public transportation systems which provides access throughout the tri-county area.

With the implementation of the new rural service in Charleston County, considering the current Edisto rural route and the urban system, Charleston County residents now have more transit options than any other county in the state. 

TriCounty Link is a mixed bag of transit services.  Currently we offer seven deviated fixed routes, ten contract routes, and Medicaid service in Berkeley and Dorchester counties.  This type of service diversity is critical to produce cash flow which in turn provides the most transportation for the dollar in the Lowcountry.

Based on the information garnered from the URS Corporation study, TriCounty Link is embarking on a new era for transit in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties.  While embracing the original guide of slow methodical growth, TriCounty Link has visions of shuttle service from major hubs in Dorchester and Berkeley Counties that will mimic the service offered in Charleston County.  Shuttles from the two counties will link to transfer points with CARTA to extend the range of transit availability, job access and reverse commutes.

In our efforts to make using our service easier for our customers, the TriCounty Link is also implementing a pass program in April 2008.  The weekly and monthly passes are sold on board the vehicles or can be purchased by mail from our offices in Moncks Corner.   A newly designed transfer was also implemented and introduced along with the new passes to create more visibility for the free transfer system between TriCounty Link routes and to CARTA services.

This is an exciting time for the TriCounty Link team.  At the 2008 Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) conference the TriCounty Link took top the honor of Public Transit Provider of the Year.  In addition, Executive Director William Hutto received the Director’s Award which is awarded at the discretion of the director of the South Carolina Department of Transportation Mass Transit Division. 

We were also proud to report that our partner, the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD-COG) received an SCDOT Special Services Award for outstanding transit service accomplishment.  The BCD-COG has been an avid supporter of good transportation planning in our region and we are fortunate to have such an excellent working relationship with them.  All three awards are very competitive and highly coveted in the South Carolina public transportation industry. The TriCounty Link received recognition for the awards in the Charleston Post and Courier and on the on-line version of Metro Magazine.

As we approach our 12th anniversary, TriCounty Link continues to plan the efficient implementation of services that will provide our rural customers with better transportation options.  In a relatively brief period of time we will be able to say that our Lowcountry is truly linked.  The successes that we are experiencing in Charleston County will flow over into both Dorchester and Berkeley Counties and rural residents will have transit opportunities and links that will enhance their quality of life as never before.