News & Events

Exciting news for Anderson County residents! GoBus’ new on-demand microtransit service, GoNOW, has completed its first month of operation in Palestine—and the results are in! In its first 30 days, GoNOW provided approximately 400 trips, averaging 20 rides per day, helping to increase overall ridership in Anderson County by 25%. This strong demand highlights the community’s need for flexible, on-demand transportation. Launched on March 1, GoNOW makes getting around easier than ever. Like Uber, riders can request a trip through a mobile app or by phone, ensuring quick pickups, shorter wait times, and the trusted reliability of GoBus. For just $2 per trip, GoNOW operates Monday through Friday, 7 AM - 3 PM, covering a 10-square-mile area in Palestine. Seniors may qualify for sponsored trips, and as always, veterans and active military ride free. The easiest way to ride? Download the GoBus app! Using GoNOW is simple: 📲 Download the app (App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android) 📞 Call our office at 903-218-6450 to register an account ✉️ Sign up with your designated email address and chosen password 🚗 Click "Book a New Trip" and get moving! With a successful first month behind us, GoBus looks forward to continuing to provide this convenient service to Palestine residents. If you haven’t tried GoNOW yet, now is the perfect time! For more information, call 903-218-6450. 

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) and GoBus will host a Hiring Event for public transit driver positions on Thursday, March 27. GoBus is ETCOG's rural, demand-response public transit system, with approximately 75 vehicles, making around 500 trips a day, five days a week, throughout 14 counties in East Texas. We are working with Compunnel Staffing to hire local and regional public transit drivers for full-time and part-time positions. The hiring event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Workforce Solutions East Texas, located at 4100 Troup Highway, Tyler, TX 75703. "We’re excited to return to Tyler for this event, which continues to be a great success year after year. We truly appreciate our partnership with Workforce Solutions East Texas for hosting and supporting this job fair. It’s a perfect opportunity for job seekers to connect with our GoBus team, learn more about our services, ask questions, and even be considered for an on-site interview," said ETCOG Assistant Executive Director Brandy Brannon. "GoBus is integral to the region and its communities, providing connectivity, fostering economic activity, and ensuring safe, reliable, and friendly transportation services. GoBus staff are dedicated and caring individuals representing the core of East Texans. In seeking new team members, we hope to present a culture that prioritizes the community and those who work to aid its citizens," said ETCOG's Director of Transportation, Vince Huerta. "We welcome new individuals with support through an open door policy, competitive pay, and plenty of growth opportunities. We are excited to build upon the amazing GoBus family!" Positions are available to serve in Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. ETCOG is seeking applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of two years of professional driving and customer service experience. A CDL is preferred but not required.

Exciting news for Anderson County residents! GoBus is expanding its services with GoNOW, an innovative microtransit pilot program launching on March 1 in Palestine, Texas. GoNOW brings flexible, on-demand transportation to the community, making it easier than ever to get where you need to go. Like Uber, riders can request a trip through a mobile app or by phone, ensuring quick pickups, shorter wait times, and the trusted reliability of GoBus. For just $2 per trip, GoNOW will operate Monday through Friday, 7 AM - 3 PM, covering a 10-square-mile area in Palestine. Seniors may qualify for sponsored trips, and as always, veterans and active military ride free. Stay tuned for more details on how to ride with GoNOW and experience the future of public transit in East Texas! This is a demonstration project funded by the Texas Department of Transportation. For more information, visit www.gobustransit.com or call 903-218-6450.

GoBus, East Texas’ premier public transportation provider, is excited to announce a pilot expansion of its popular Canton Cruiser service during the world-renowned First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas. Beginning December 2024, the Canton Cruiser will operate on Sundays, providing a new opportunity for visitors to enjoy hassle-free transportation at the market. The Sunday pilot service will run on the following dates: December 1, 2024 January 5, 2025 February 2, 2025 March 2, 2025 April 4, 2025 Sunday operations will mirror the current Friday and Saturday schedule, with free shuttles running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM . Each trolley is handicap accessible and operated by highly trained drivers employed by the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG). The Canton Cruiser, funded in part by the Canton Visitors Bureau, has become a vital resource for shoppers attending First Monday Trade Days. Known for its convenience and reliability, the service not only moves visitors between key locations but can also assist in transporting products. “The Canton Cruiser has been an incredible asset for First Monday Trade Days transporting approximately 700 riders each weekend, and we’re thrilled to extend this service to Sundays on a trial basis,” said ETCOG's Transportation Director, Vince Huerta. “This pilot aims to better serve the community and the many visitors who flock to Canton for this iconic event.” This pilot program reflects GoBus' ongoing commitment to enhancing public transportation options in East Texas while supporting local tourism and economic growth. For more information on the Canton Cruiser, including route details and accessibility features, visit www.gobustransit.com/canton-cruiser or contact GoBus at 1-800-590-3371 . We look forward to serving you on Sundays during First Monday Trade Days—see you at the market!

We are excited to announce the launch of new pilot routes in four counties, offering expanded transportation options for our riders! These routes will provide additional service into our nearby metro areas, helping more people access key destinations. Henderson County to Tyler: GoBus will offer out-of-county service from Henderson County to Tyler on Tuesdays and Thursdays, following the same schedule as the current Tuesday service. Camp/Upshur County to Longview: A new pilot route will connect Camp and Upshur Counties to Longview on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please note that this will not impact the out-of-county service from Upshur County to Tyler on Thursdays. Local Service in Cherokee County: We are introducing a local service route within Cherokee County on Tuesdays. This new route will not affect the out-of-county service to Tyler on Tuesdays. We hope these pilot routes will better serve our riders' transportation needs. Keep an eye out for more details about schedules and stops, and thank you for choosing GoBus!

Pictured Left to Right: ETCOG’s Transportation Director, Vince Huerta; SWTA Executive Director, Rich Sampson; and ETCOG’s Communications Director, Lindsay Vanderbilt

We are proud to announce that three of our dedicated GoBus drivers, Chris Thomas, Glenn George, and Michael Owens, have successfully earned their Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) with passenger endorsements. This accomplishment was made possible through the GoBus Transit CDL program, which we proudly sponsor to ensure our drivers are well-equipped to serve our 14-county service area in East Texas.

As Methvin Street in front of the Gregg County Courthouse closed this month, the associated parking spots are lost to facilitate the construction of a new courthouse parking facility. ETCOG is proud to have begun a new partnership with Gregg County to help alleviate the parking challenges and ensure smoother transitions and continued access for courthouse visitors during construction. ETCOG has contracted with the county to implement a shuttle service through its rural transit system, GoBus. This service will transport individuals from the parking lots off Cotton Street to the courthouse and back, operating Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The service for this temporary route is free to anyone seeking transport to the courthouse. "We recognize everybody coming for jury duty is coming all at the same time, and we will be sure to be prepared for that influx of passengers," said ETCOG Director of Communications Lindsay Vanderbilt. "To accommodate peak times, GoBus is able to deploy additional buses making the routes simultaneously." The construction project is visibly underway and expected to last approximately 15 months. During this time, GoBus, known for its safe, reliable, and friendly transit services across 14 counties in East Texas, will be at your service. For more information, visit www.gobustransit.com.

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) will host a Hiring Event on Tuesday, May 14th, for part-time and PRN (as-needed) GoBus Operator positions. GoBus is a convenient and reliable service that spans 14 counties in the rural areas of East Texas.