Florence County, South Carolina – Passenger Appreciation Week is a unique effort meant to honor and appreciate the communities the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) serves. Passengers around the Pee Dee region will enjoy fare-free trips and interesting activities as part of this weeklong festival starting Monday, November 18, through Friday, November 22, 2024. The celebration highlights PDRTA’s dedication to provide dependable, easily available, community-centered transportation.
PDRTA will waive rates on all routes, including usually fee-based services in Florence County and those linking to Myrtle Beach, for the whole week. Residents of Chesterfield to Marion counties can travel free of cost, motivating both regular and new users to enjoy the ease of public transportation. Fare collection will resume on Saturday, November 23.
PDRTA claims that the passengers are the center of what they do; so, Passenger Appreciation Week is their way of expressing gratitude for allowing new users to experience the advantages of public transportation and for trusting them to satisfy their travel needs.
PDRTA staff members will interact personally with passengers to gather insightful comments as part of the weekly activities. Through surveys carried out on multiple routes and at strategic transit stations, travelers can share their experiences, provide recommendations, and point up areas needing development. This input will play a critical role in shaping the future of PDRTA services.
PDRTA goal is to continuously improve. The comments PDRTA collects all week long will enable them to better serve the community and grasp the needs of the passengers.
PDRTA personnel will be on routes across the Pee Dee area to meet riders, answer questions, and expedite the survey process throughout Passenger Appreciation Week. These community involvement sessions have a set agenda as follows:
- Monday, November 18 Florence County routes and Florence Transit Center, 9:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 19 Darlington County routes, with stops at Darlington Walmart (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) and Hartsville Walmart (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
- Wednesday, November 20 Marlboro County routes, Carlie C’s (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.).
- Thursday, November 21 Chesterfield County routes, including Pageland KJ’s (9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) and Chesterfield Walmart (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.).
- Friday, November 22 Dillon and Marion County routes, Marion Walmart (8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) and Dillon Walmart (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.).
Through this participatory method, PDRTA can establish opportunities for meaningful communication and strengthen the feeling of community by personally connecting with its riders.
Passenger Appreciation Week coincides with PDRTA celebrating 50 years of service to the Pee Dee region. Originally founded in June 1974, PDRTA has expanded to rank third among all regional transit authorities in the US and the largest in South Carolina. With 35 routes—fixed, demand response, workforce services—the authority facilitates more than 30,000 monthly passenger trips.
From linking rural communities to metropolitan hubs to advocating environmentally friendly transportation options, PDRTA has been instrumental in the development and connectivity of the region.
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Its constant commitment to assisting Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Marlboro, Dillon, and Marion counties remains pillar of its work.
Passenger Appreciation Week provides an opportunity to consider the past and forward oriented as PDRTA honors its 50th anniversary. The company wants to carry on its tradition of quality and innovation in regional transportation by strengthening links in the community and including rider comments.
Visit pdrta.org, contact [email protected], or call (843) 665-2227 for further information regarding Passenger Appreciation Week or PDRTA services.
Passenger Appreciation Week is about creating relationships, listening to the voices of the community, and commemorating the common journey toward a better future in the Pee Dee region.
