Bamberg Council on Aging set for $1.14 million transit funding

Older adults in Bamberg County could see a more dependable ride to the doctor, the grocery store and county services if $1.14 million in new transit funding is finalized. The money would buy nine buses for the Bamberg Council on Aging, a direct boost to the county’s rural transportation network where a missed ride can mean a missed appointment.

The funding package combines $969,000 in federal money with $171,000 in state money. It comes through the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 program, which is designed to help older adults and people with disabilities when transportation is unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate. In rural and small urban areas, the South Carolina Department of Transportation serves as the direct recipient and passes the funds along to eligible local agencies.

For Bamberg County residents, the impact would land in an existing system, not a new one. The Bamberg County Office on Aging says it has served the county since 1975, operates with almost 30 vehicles and more than 100 volunteers, and already provides Medicaid transportation. It also runs Handy Ride, which serves non-Medicaid medical appointments, shopping and work trips for $2 per 10 miles. The office says Medicaid transportation requires three days’ notice. The new buses would strengthen that fleet and make it easier for seniors and residents without reliable vehicles to keep appointments and handle day-to-day errands.

That matters in a county where communities are spread across Bamberg, Denmark, Ehrhardt, Olar and Govan. When transportation is scarce, the first thing affected is often access to health care, followed by groceries, work and basic county business. The Office on Aging says its mission is to improve the quality of life for older adults and promote independence and continuing participation in the community, and the added buses would support that work in practical terms.

Bamberg is not alone in getting transit support. Orangeburg County Transit is set to receive $255,000 in federal funds and $45,000 in state funds for two buses. Orangeburg County’s Cross County Connection already includes a downtown circulator and a St. Matthews connector, and county officials said earlier this year they were seeking additional federal help to cover operating costs and keep accessible buses on the road. The Lower Savannah Council of Governments, which handles rural transportation planning for Bamberg, Orangeburg and four other counties, helps frame that regional approach: rural transit in this part of South Carolina depends on a mix of state and federal money to keep residents moving.