‘Project Pickup’ transports students in summer

LISBON - School's almost out for summer, but teens can still hop a bus if they want to visit area parks, pools, libraries and community centers instead of sitting at home.

Dubbed "Project Pickup," the summer pilot program is being offered by the Community Action Rural Transit System operated by the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County.

With 24 hours notice to CARTS and 75 cents, children can ride to some of their favorite destinations without having to bum a ride from a parent.

Phyllis Linderman, CARTS Transportation Manager, said they were thinking about ways to get children interested in riding the CARTS bus and came up with the idea for Project Pickup since many children in the rural areas have no means to get to the local pool or ball field.

With gas prices going up, she said families don't have the money for multiple trips.

"We need to get the teens to understand that transit is not a negative thing - it's a positive thing," she said.

Transportation will be available for the program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning June 15 and ending Aug. 21. To make a reservation, teens must call 24 hours in advance at 330-424-4015. Once they're picked up, they'll be given a designated pickup point and time so they can be returned home. A schedule of stops will be provided to teens.

Linderman stressed that the program isn't for trips to the mall or shopping or a friend's house, but to targeted destinations, including most parks, pools, local libraries, the East Liverpool YMCA, Salem Community Center and events at local schools.

She said the idea is to offer "a safe way of allowing children to go from point A to point B."

They'll be given two to four hours at their destination and Linderman said they must be ready to be picked up, or they could lose their ride. After three no-shows, they won't be picked up anymore.

"We will be interested to see how the students and parents respond to this program because we feel it is a need for the county," CAA Executive Director Carol Bretz said.

Linderman noted that all drivers are trained in first aid and CPR and have to submit to random drug testing and background checks. Depending on the need and interest shown, she said they could have a bus designated for the program, but for now students will ride their regular buses.

"We're hoping it will be met with excitement by the community. We can think of a lot of pluses," she said.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net