While under the state directive to Stay Home, Stay Safe, Dial-A-Ride officials at the Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority want residents to know that you can still use the bus service, but only when absolutely essential.
Paul Gillespie, Executive Director, working from headquarters at 275 East Wall Street in Benton Harbor says that the bus line remains in operation, “But urges riders, for now, to only use the service when it is absolutely necessary for trips to work for essential service providers, to pick up food or prescriptions, or to travel to emergency medical appointments not related to the coronavirus.”
The Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority provides three fixed routes as well as demand response service to the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph community.
Gillespie says, “We are committed to providing service for as long as it is safe for our passengers and drivers to do so, but we really are urging people to stay home and heed the warnings to avoid unnecessary travel in the next few weeks.” He adds, “We know that many people rely on us to get to work to essential jobs, buy food and medicine, and access healthcare, so we want to be there if people need us and will remain open for now.”
Anyone who is sick or showing signs of respiratory illness should not take the Dial-A-Ride buses or any public transportation, but should instead contact their doctor, health care provider, or the county health department for advice on what to do, including information on transportation.
