Historical Information

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Little Kanawha Transit Authority provides transportation services to the general public, with an emphasis on serving the specialized needs of the mobility impaired or otherwise disadvantaged. We operate services to a variety of social service agencies, work sites, and to the general public over regular routes. Our operational facility is located on Mt. Zion, WV and that facility supports all four counties of Calhoun, Roane, Jackson and Gilmer.

Services started transpiring in 1998 for transportation in Calhoun County under Community Resources, Inc. (CRI) as Little Kanawha Bus DBA CRI with plans being laid out for routes, fares, trip reasons, logo, contact information and other needs to get under way. Funding came through Dept. of Transportation with drivers being hired under AmeriCorps, a national service training for jobs. AmeriCorps members were given a living stipend and an educational award to use toward going back to school after a two year service. At the time this all started, Teresa Ward was the County Director for CRI.

With two AmeriCorps members acquired for drivers, buses started rolling out sometime early in 1999 with only two passengers aboard. As time went on and passengers increased with a total of around 3,116 passengers by the end of 2000. In December, 2000, Little Kanawha Bus expanded into Roane County with a total of 26 passengers the first month. By the end of 2001 grant year, ridership totaled 12,827. In August of 2006, Little Kanawha Bus expanded again and this time we went to Jackson County. By the end of 2006 grant year ridership totaled 25,668.

As of July 1, 2008, Little Kanawha Bus became their own entity and thus became Little Kanawha Transit Authority.  January 2014 Little Kanawha Transit Authority expanded into Gilmer County with a total of 6 passengers and continued to grow. At the end of 2016 grant year we have transported 31, 906 passengers

Little Kanawha Transit Authority was given the opportunity by Susan O’Connell; Executive Director of the Department of Transportation, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to have a facility built. Searching and time led us to a 4.55 acre lot on Mt. Zion Ridge and thus started the process of building a 2.6 million dollar facility. The facility was completed and the contract was signed February, 2013. Little Kanawha Transit moved in the same month.

Little Kanawha Transit and each county has grown each year and ridership is thriving. We are humbled by how far we have evolved since the start of Little Kanawha Bus in 1998 and look forward to further serving the citizens of Calhoun, Roane, Jackson and Gilmer Counties.