NATCHEZ — Adrese White doesn’t own a car.

But she never stresses about how she’ll get to her 8 a.m. class at Copiah-Lincoln College, or if her 6-year-old son will make it to school.

For two years, White has relied on the Natchez Transit System as her sole source of transportation.

“It’s my most dependable form of transportation,” said 35-year-old White, who is pursuing a nursing degree.

Monday through Friday, White calls the transit system at 6 a.m. and tells the operator where she lives, and where she needs to go. By 7 a.m., a driver is waiting outside her apartment.

“They get me here on time and I don’t mind riding it,” she said.

White pays $3 for a one-way trip. If her son is in tow, the fare doubles to $6.

“He loves riding because he gets to ride with momma to school,” White said. “He gets a kick out of it.”

Some days, though, White admits the price to ride can be daunting.

If she’s attending classes and taking her son to school, the total price can rise as high to $24 in a day.

And that’s a price, White said, that can be difficult to afford.

The price of a regional transit system

In 1977, the City of Natchez acquired its first public transportation vehicle from the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Initially used to transport local elderly to the Natchez Senior Citizen Center, the transit system has since graduated into something of a regional transportation hub.

Sabrena Bartley, executive director of the Natchez Transit System and the Natchez Senior Citizen Center, connected the dots in 2007 to incorporate several rural communities into the transit system’s service zone.

“From that, I just kind of sketched it out on a piece of paper and began talking with people from around the state,” Bartley said.

First contacting the Natchez Board of Aldermen, then the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and finally federal representatives — Bartley’s dream of a centralized transportation hub in Natchez came to fruition on March 23, 2014.

On that date, the ribbon was cut on the Natchez Transit System Regional Transportation Center, located at 127 Wood Ave.

Now serving as the main source for rural, public transportation in Southwest Mississippi, the center boasts a staff of 31 employees.

Among those employees are transit drivers, dispatchers, trip reservationists, maintenance workers, custodians and an administrative staff.

All those employees, Bartley said, turn the wheels of the Natchez Transit System engine.

And with a large facility and a large staff comes a large budget.

To keep vehicles maintained and employees paid, Bartley said the transit system is currently working off of a $1.6 million budget for the 2014-2015 year.

Last year’s budget boasted a $6 million to construct the facility, Bartley said.

“We stay afloat through local backing and federal backing that comes through the Mississippi Department of Transportation,” Bartley said. “We also have funds generated through fare box revenue.”

On average, Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the city covers anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of the Natchez Transit System’s annual budget.

However, for 2015, the city exceeded that allotment and budgeted $189,000 for the transit system.

“It’s a highly subsidized program by the Federal Transportation Administration,” Brown said. “It’s a real bargain for the city and the region.”

And while most costs are federally covered, Bartley said uncontrollable factors, such as fuel prices, could greatly impact the transit system’s expenses.

The transit system’s smallest vehicles hold 35 gallons of fuel, while the large trolleys hold nearly 100 gallons, Bartley said.

“We had a problem when fuel was skyrocketing and we went from maybe using $20,000 worth of fuel in one year to $100,000 worth of fuel,” Bartley said. “That strained our budget badly.”

When setbacks such as high fuel costs occur, Bartley said the transit system is forced to reorganize its services.

Sometimes, that includes excluding a route, or waiting to replace an older vehicle.

“Rural transportation is not designed to be a money-making endeavor,” Bartley said. “It’s designed to provide a service that’s lacking in the community.”

Who uses the transit system

White isn’t the only Natchezian reaping the benefits of the Natchez Transit System.

Stephen Thomas, 54, gets on board several times a week to travel from his residence to Fresenius Medical Care for dialysis treatment.

And he usually doesn’t ride alone.

Tuesday, at 6:22 a.m., Thomas joined four other passengers who, like him, were using the transit system for medical services.

“It’s been good and pretty reliable,” said Thomas, who has been using the transit system for approximately three weeks.

Tina Minor, who has been working for the transit system for four years as a driver, said she usually drives approximately 23 people a day.

Most of her passengers, Minor said, board between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Before she even settles into the driver’s seat, Minor said she has a good idea of where she’s going.

“I usually work the north side of town, and it’s mostly people going to work or getting medical treatment,” Minor said.

Since she operates the same 10-seat bus Monday through Friday at the same time, Minor said most passengers are no longer strangers, but familiar faces.

Some passengers, though, ride a much longer distance that exceeds Natchez City limits.

The transit system’s services, Bartley said, extend as far as Jackson.

However, those trips must be planned three days in advance, and be tied to a “quality of life” issue.

“There are a large amount of people who go to Jackson for all of their medical needs,” Bartley said.

And with a longer trip comes a bigger bill.

To travel to Jackson, a fee of $22 is charged for a one-way trip, which required three-day notice. For any destination in Jefferson County, the fare is $6 and a one-day notice is required.

Residents traveling to Ferriday are charged $5 one way and also require one-day notice. Trips to Vicksburg, Brookhaven and McComb cost $6 and require a three-day notice.

Bartley said because most of these trips are based on medical needs, discounts are made available.

“If Medicaid deems that trip necessary, then Medicaid will pay for that trip,” she said.

In the past year, Bartley said a significant spike in residents using the transit system’s services has occurred.

In the 2013-2014 year, Bartley said more than 71,000 one-way trips were documented.

Compared with similar-sized cities such as Vicksburg, that number is on par.

Evelyn Bumpers, executive director of NRoute — Vicksburg’s public transportation service — said the city typically makes 206 one-way trips a day, which adds up to 75,190 trips a year.

“The system has plans to expand its services in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in October,” Bumpers said.  “We anticipate developing tourism routes and also commuter and vanpool routes to industries in Warren County.”

Currently, Vicksburg’s public transportation system boasts a $938,000 budget for the 2014-2015 year — $662,000 less than Natchez.

They have 12 vehicles, and recently applied for 10 more through MDOT, Bumpers said.

NRoute also offers less hours of operation compared to Natchez.

After studying the system’s peak hours, Bumpers said it was determined that 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, were the best hours of operation.

The Natchez Transit System currently operates from 4 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, the transit system operates 8 a.m. through 4 p.m., and only picks up pre-scheduled riders.

At any point in the day, Bartley said approximately four vehicles are en route at a given time.

“Unless you are in New York City, you’re never going to see a full bus in any rural area,” said Bartley, admitting that it’s common to see a vacant bus rolling through the downtown area.

Eventually, Bartley said she would like to see a less expensive, more accessible transit system.

The Future of the transit 

system

If you want to board the bus, you better have cash — and in the exact amount.

Bartley admitted that the Natchez Transit System is behind the curve when it comes to savvy payment methods.

Currently, the transit system only accepts cash payment unless advance tickets are purchased.

“We are looking to have phone apps so people can schedule their trips on their phone and can pay on their phone,” Bartley.

To make that dream a reality, Bartley said she has had several discussions with Ed Bowser, the city’s information technology director.

“We have a long way to go, but I’m excited about how far we’ve come,” Bartley said.

The ultimate dream of the Natchez Transit System, Bartley said, is for it to be an all-inclusive facility that services the entire Southwest region of Mississippi for a minimal cost to the rider.

Also, Bartley said she hopes to offer a bus that exclusively serves downtown Natchez for the benefit of community members and tourists.

This vehicle, Bartley said, would operate at no cost to the passenger.

“We want to eventually expand our parking lot too, so people can park their car there and ride the transit out of town,” she said. “The major piece that is missing is the technology that links it all.”

And while the Natchez Transit System offers a multitude of benefits, White admitted she hopes to someday drive herself to class, and pick up her son from school in her own vehicle.

“Hopefully I’ll be blessed to have my own vehicle really soon,” White said.