OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Oak Ridge Transit is offering free curb-to-curb transportation to riders starting October 1 through a partnership with the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA), the city announced.
ORT also plans to extend its hours to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
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The trips need to be scheduled 24 hours in advance or by 3 p.m. the day before pickup, Oak Ridge said. At some point, fares will resume, but ETHRA will let riders know 30 days before that happens, according to the city. All Oak Ridge residents are eligible for this service and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The city said drivers can help with boarding, exiting, securing seatbelts, and wheelchairs, but cannot enter homes or buildings. Riders who need additional help can bring an escort, and they can have up to four “grocery-sized” bags on board, a spokesperson said. If the rider is more than five minutes late, they will be considered a “no-show.”
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To schedule a trip, call (865) 482-2785 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or download the ETHRA Public Transit App from the App Store or Google Play, then call 1-800-232-1565 to request account access. More information is available on ORT’s website and by calling (865) 482-2785…