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Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens/Four County Transit

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Reservation Lines

1-276-963-1486

1-888-656-2272

We’re not just for senior citizens

Anyone of any age can ride Four County Transit’s public routes. We are a fully coordinated public transit system serving the residents of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties. We have transportation coordinators available to answer your questions Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM—4:30 PM, excluding major holidays.

Why you should ride Four County Transit

Riding the bus saves money, eases traffic congestion, and pollutes less — per passenger mile — than private vehicles.

It is estimated that public transportation use in our country saves more than 1 billion gallons of gasoline each year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average retail price of gas in 2008 was about $3.39 per gallon. That means people who used public transportation in 2008 saved nearly 3.5 billion dollars!

Even in communities as small as ours, we sometimes have too many vehicles on the road. More cars on the road — more opportunities for traffic accidents. And heavier traffic can translate into a longer, more stressful commute to work. Plus, the more time we spend driving our cars, the more our cars experience wear and tear.

In the U.S., 82 percent of our human-made greenhouse emissions are carbon dioxide emissions. When chemical particulates hang in the air, we breathe them into our lungs. They can cause or worsen bronchial or pulmonary illness. Air pollutants also contribute to acid rain, which in turn seeps into our groundwater, streams, and lakes. It kills soil organisms, introduces toxins to plants and animals, and slows the growth of trees. Our ecosystem is a vital component of our air quality. If we destroy it, we destroy our ability to breathe. By contributing fewer pollutants that produce smog and greenhouse gases, public transportation helps maintain national air quality standards.

Monday through Friday, 34 million times each day, people in this country use public transportation. Join us, won’t you?

Four County Transit’s fleet

We have a fleet of 63 vehicles, including vans, buses, and trolleys. All vehicles purchased since 2003 have wheelchair lifts.

Our drivers

All Four County Transit drivers are trained in CPR, first aid, and wheelchair lift and securement. Several of our drivers have been winners at the Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV) Annual Paratransit Roadeo. Drivers who participate in the Roadeo have been employed for at least one year with no avoidable accidents on record.

Our facility

Our administration and vehicle maintenance facility offers 5,616 square feet for staff and 6,300 square feet of maintenance support. It includes four maintenance/service bays, one vehicle wash bay, and a large parts/storage area. Four County Transit utilizes a rainwater collection and storage system to wash its vehicles. An environmental friendly heating system employs used vehicle fluids.

Our history

Prior to 1998, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens (AASC) provided transportation services for participants at its senior congregate nutrition sites and senior citizen clubs. Four County Transit was created in 1998 through a demonstration grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT). Due to the success of that grant, Four County Transit became part of VDRPT’s public transit system. Although our organization evolved from AASC’s transportation program, we are still part of AASC today.

In 2000, Four County Transit began providing a public transportation route for college students attending Southwest Virginia Community College through a public route. In 2006, we began public routes for students who attend Mountain Empire Community College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

In 2003, we started our first non-college deviated fixed route, in Richlands, Va. Routes in Cedar Bluff, Lebanon, Tazewell quickly followed, along with connector routes to the two Bluefields. Soon we operated routes through Castlewood, Dante, St. Paul, and Cleveland. In 2005, we began two routes for Grundy and Buchanan County, and routes for Clintwood, Clinchco, Haysi, and Dickenson County. The town of Grundy agreed to begin the Grundy Trolley Service in 2006, to ease parking problems and traffic congestion during the Grundy flood control project.

The Highway 19 Work Express route began in 2007 to provide public transportation options through Russell County with a connection to Tazewell County. A similar route, the Route 71 Work Express, began trial services in 2008, providing transportation from St. Paul to Lebanon to Tazewell County.

Article about Four County Transit in BusRide Magazine.

Article about Four County Transit in Mass Transit Magazine.