Public Meetings Canceled and COVID-19 Precautions
March 16, 2020
GOBUS
GoBus began a public meeting circuit in March to discuss services available and pending service enhancements to increase customer satisfaction. Public meetings have been held in seven of our counties, but to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are canceling the public meetings listed below through April 9th. We apologize for the inconvenience and will resume or reschedule when it is safe to do so.
- March 20, 2020, at the Mineola Memorial Library in Mineola
- March 20, 2020, at the Rains County Library in Emory
- March 24, 2020, at the Lillie Russell Memorial Library in Lindale
- March 26, 2020, at the Van Zandt County Sarah Norman Library in Canton
- March 26, 2020, at the Athens Economic Development Corporation in Athens
- April 9, 2020, at the Palestine Public Library in Palestine
- April 9, 2020, at the Jacksonville Public Library in Jacksonville
ETCOG and GoBus would like to ensure our partners of the increased measures we have implemented to supplement the more common steps individuals can take to protect from the virus.
“We are monitoring the CDC and the North East Texas Public Health District for updates and recommendations and can confirm to you that our team is doing everything possible to maintain a clean, safe environment for our clients and staff,” said GoBus Assistant Director, Baylea Evans.
GoBus has adopted preventive practices from the American Public Transportation Authority (APTA) Guide for Public Transportation Pandemic Planning and Response (NCHRP, 2013) and will continue to make any necessary changes recommended by the CDC:
- GoBus Management has required drivers to wash hands as frequently as possible and utilize hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily available.
- GoBus Vehicle Operators have been encouraged to wear gloves when necessary.
- Vehicles are sprayed with an EPA certified disinfectant twice daily (mid-day and end-of-day), paying close attention to handrails, armrests and seat backs.
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Recently, the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Fund for Veterans' Assistance (FVA) announced its largest funding in the 16-year history of FVA programs, with 213 grants totaling $46,315,000 to provide services to an estimated 40,000 veterans. ETCOG is proud to be one of the grant recipients selected with $250,000 of those funds to provide GoBus transportation services for veterans in our 14-county service region. "It is an honor to receive this funding award from the Texas Veterans Commission and Chair Koerner, which allows us to continue our mission to support all East Texas veterans," said Vince Huerta, GoBus Director. "We are dedicated to growing the program and look forward to assisting more veterans this year." With the grant, our public transit system, GoBus, will fund trips to and from medical, dental, and mental health appointments, as well as trips for basic needs such as grocery stores, community meetings, voting, court appearances, and tax offices. These trips are available to veterans, veteran spouses and dependents, survivor spouses, and active military personnel. The grant is in partnership with over $46.3 million in grants for veterans, Governor Abbott announced on May 20 . “Texas is forever indebted to the brave men and women who answered the call to serve in our nation's military,” said Governor Abbott. “The State of Texas is home to over 1.5 million veterans—more than any other state. This has shaped our mission to provide wide-ranging services for veterans and their families. With over $46,315,000 in state grants, Texas will help thousands of veterans and their families access vital support and resources needed to thrive in our great state. Texas will always support our veterans and honor their sacrifices to our state and our nation.” Find out about all veteran transport services GoBus offers by visiting www.gobustransit.com/govet .
ETCOG is excited to share progress on the new GoBus Transportation Facility, which is nearing completion and expected to open this summer.
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.
