OATS Transit will add two Honda Odyssey vans to its fleet in Jefferson County.
The nonprofit transportation provider, which is based in Columbia, reported on Dec. 14 that it would use a $90,000 grant from the Jefferson Foundation to purchase the vans.
The vans are expected to be put into service in Jefferson County by the end of March.
“We are very grateful to the Jefferson Foundation for this grant, which allows us to match our federal grants with local funds,” said Dorothy Yeager, OATS Transit executive director. “The funds will stay directly in Jefferson County to help local residents get to places they need to go.”
Along with the $90,000 to purchase vans, OATS also received a $100,000 grant from the Jefferson Foundation to support the nonprofit’s transportation program in the county.
OATS, which provides transportation services in 87 counties in Missouri, took over Jefferson County’s nonprofit bus service, which was called Jeffco Express, on Dec. 1, 2019. The Jefferson County Community Partnership had owned and operated Jeffco Express before OATS acquired it.
OATS operates two cross-county routes in Jefferson County, which mirror each other and complete three loops a day. One of those cross-county routes, the blue route, starts in De Soto and travels north to Arnold. The green route starts in Arnold and travels south. Both routes have stops in Hillsboro, Pevely and Festus.
In addition, OATS has a dedicated Arnold bus route.
OATS also provides essential service transportation through its OATS Transit and JC Transit call-a-ride services. Essential service transportation is defined as trips for dialysis, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, food banks and similar needs, the company said.
Last year, the company provided 57,236 trips to 340 Jefferson County residents, according to a written statement.
“The Jefferson Foundation is excited to be able to partner with OATS Transit to provide transportation services in Jefferson County,” said Melissa Endres, Jefferson Foundation’s executive vice president. “The service provided by OATS Transit is key in helping people get to medical appointments and employment, and we are fortunate to have them in our community.”
For more information about OATS Transit or Jeffco Express, go to oatstransit.org. Area residents wanting to schedule rides should call the local office at 636-933-9380.