MAHONING TOWNSHIP -- If you live in Montour County and use shared ride transportation services, you will soon see some changes.
This Friday, Montour County Transit will become part of Rabbit Transit, a transportation provider based in York.
County commissioners call it a necessary change because of new PennDOT requirements. They say the bus service under Rabbit Transit will be more affordable for Montour County and riders won't notice much of a difference.
Buses and vans labeled "Montour County Transit" are parked in a lot on Woodbine Lane near Danville. Soon the vehicles will be labeled "Rabbit Transit" as Montour County switches transportation providers.
According to county commissioners, they are making the switch to avoid paying for an expensive software upgrade, software that Rabbit Transit already has.
People use the transportation system to go to doctor's appointments, the senior center, and grocery stores.
Rates will stay the same for riders going to doctor's appointments and other necessity trips, but rates will increase 55 cents each way for non-necessity trips.
The only other change riders will see is drivers will no longer be allowed to carry people's groceries inside their houses.
Columbia, Snyder, Northumberland, and Union Counties all use Rabbit Transit so commissioners believe service will improve in Montour County.
"In the past, if one of our riders wanted to go to the Susquehanna Mall, you couldn't. Now, because of Rabbit managing the whole area, that could be possible," said Montour County Commissioner Ken Holdren.
Montour County Transit will become Rabbit Transit this Friday.
The increase in fares will start on July 18.
According to commissioners, all 12 employees with Montour County Transit were given the opportunity to apply at Rabbit Transit. For those who chose not to, commissioners brought in an unemployment specialist to meet with them.
