GoBus Receives Outstanding Rural Transit System in Texas Award from the Texas Transit Association

March 2, 2022

GOBUS

Pictured: TTA Board President Jorge Cruz-Aedo, ETCOG Transit Operations Manager Katey Pilgram, ETCOG Transportation Director Vince Huerta, ETCOG Transportation Data Analyst Preston Garcia

ETCOG is pleased to announce its rural transportation system, GoBus, has received the Outstanding Rural Transit System Award from the Texas Transit Association (TTA). Staff was honored with the award last week in Austin at one of the largest transit conferences held in the nation, the 2022 Joint Annual Conference, Expo, and Roadeo hosted by the TTA and South West Transit Association.


Each year, this award is given to a rural public transportation system that has designed and implemented programs that demonstrate innovative concepts or effective problem-solving techniques and have successfully applied these in the public transportation industry. GoBus received the award for the first time in 2014.


“I am so proud of the GoBus Team!” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “Under the direction of our program director, Vince Huerta, GoBus has demonstrated their commitment to continuously improve the quality and availability of transit services throughout the East Texas Region. They have not only been able to increase ridership but also take on many different special projects to help fill transportation gaps. Some of these projects include creating seamless travel through multiple partnerships, offering free trips to veterans, and even providing routine transportation to health care staff to distribute vaccines during the height of COVID. Through these projects, GoBus has initiated the expansion of services to nights and weekends and brought in thousands of local matching dollars to their program. I am thrilled that TTA has recognized GoBus for their exceptional services with the award for Outstanding Rural Transit System.”


GoBus is available for all rural residents to access safe, reliable, and friendly public transportation. GoBus provides daily local service within Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties and the non-urbanized areas of Gregg and Smith counties. GoBus provides trips from the rural areas into the urbanized areas of Longview or Tyler on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Trips can be booked by calling 800-590-3371 to speak with the dispatch office.


About Texas Transit Association
More than 700 transit industry leaders, professionals, and business partners gathered for the annual conference at the Austin Convention Center last week. TTA was organized in 1986, and its members are Texas metropolitan, small urban, and rural transit agencies and private and public entities from across the United States. TTA’s purpose is to educate the people of Texas about issues affecting the public transit industry within the state. https://txtransit.org/


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By GoBus • March 25, 2025
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.

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