Rural Public Transportation
Rural public transportation services called RTRANSIT is provided in the following counties Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, and Victoria.
History
The Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission’s RTRANSIT program is one of 42 rural transit systems in the State of Texas. Texas has the largest rural population in the nation and the largest rural general public transportation program. The Golden Crescent Region is also predominantly rural. According to the 1990 Census, over two-thirds of the region’s population reside in what is considered to be rural.
Since many of the rural communities in the Golden Crescent Region do not have access to medical care in their communities, they must depend on the health care facilities located in other non-urban cities in their county or rely on the medical facilities located in the city of Victoria for their health care needs. This need for medical transportation prompted the coordination of a comprehensive transportation program.
GCRPC has been providing Rural Transportation Services known as RTRANSIT since November 1986, over the years RTRANSIT has grown from providing services with only a hand full of vehicles to a fleet of 59 vehicles throughout the region. RTRANSIT provides curb-to-curb transportation service for the rural residents in Calhoun, Dewitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, and Victoria Counties. Residents access the system by calling RTRANSIT in their county a day in advance to schedule a ride.
The transit system offers residents transportation within their county and transportation to neighboring counties. In order to provide efficient transportation services in the over 6,000 square mile region, the Planning Commission contracts with six local providers.
Major funding for this program is provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) under the Section 5311 Grant Program. In addition, funding provided from the Department of Aging and Disability, Cities and Counties, as well as fare revenues help support the program.
Since many of the rural communities in the Golden Crescent Region do not have access to medical care in their communities, they must depend on the health care facilities located in other non-urban cities in their county or rely on the medical facilities located in the city of Victoria for their health care needs. This need for medical transportation prompted the coordination of a comprehensive transportation program.
GCRPC has been providing Rural Transportation Services known as RTRANSIT since November 1986, over the years RTRANSIT has grown from providing services with only a hand full of vehicles to a fleet of 59 vehicles throughout the region. RTRANSIT provides curb-to-curb transportation service for the rural residents in Calhoun, Dewitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, and Victoria Counties. Residents access the system by calling RTRANSIT in their county a day in advance to schedule a ride.
The transit system offers residents transportation within their county and transportation to neighboring counties. In order to provide efficient transportation services in the over 6,000 square mile region, the Planning Commission contracts with six local providers.
Major funding for this program is provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) under the Section 5311 Grant Program. In addition, funding provided from the Department of Aging and Disability, Cities and Counties, as well as fare revenues help support the program.
Links
RTransit Service Guide (June 2022)