TriCounty buses drawing riders

The three Commuter Solutions express bus routes introduced by TriCounty Link just five weeks ago have quickly attracted riders, and the transit agency expects demand to continue after it starts charging for rides Dec. 1.

For now, the buses serving commuters in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties are free, and riders also get a shot at winning a trip to Las Vegas each time they ride TriCounty Link.

"We've just scratched the surface here and we've had a very good response," said Will Hutto, executive director of the bus system based in Moncks Corner. "It's exciting because we're really making a difference and helping people get to work."

TriCounty Link has six commuter buses operating on three routes, two of which directly connect with CARTA bus routes in North Charleston.

The two bus systems have a reciprocal agreement, so a passenger who boards a TriCounty Link bus can transfer at no charge to a CARTA bus, and on the return trip would pay the CARTA fare and transfer free back to TriCounty Link.

One of the TriCounty Link routes stops at the Santee Cooper building in Moncks Corner, the new Berkeley County office building on U.S. Highway 52, the county's satellite office on U.S. 52 in Goose Creek and connects with CARTA at the Kmart Super Center at Rivers Avenue and Otranto Road in North Charleston.

Another stops at Ridgeville Town Hall, the Heritage Square shopping center parking lot at U.S. Highway 78 and Berlin G. Myers Parkway in Summerville and connects with CARTA at the Kmart in North Charleston.

The final route runs between the Heritage Square lot in Summerville, the Santee Cooper building in Moncks Corner and the Berkeley County building in Moncks Corner.

Hutto said that by the end of September, the three bus routes were carrying more than 200 riders daily. Transit systems count each boarding as a rider, so 200 riders are the same as 100 round-trip passengers.

"For a rural commuter service to achieve this type of success in such a short time is great news," he said.

When the free ride promotion ends, monthly passes will cost $70 and one-way rides will cost $2.25.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.