OATS Transit is pleased to announce the acquisition of one of Jefferson County’s transportation programs known as the JeffCo Express. The administrative change became effective on December 1, 2019.
Though OATS has always operated the service, maintained the buses and hired the drivers, we are officially taking over administration of the program from the Jefferson County Community Partnership (JCCP).
“This consolidation will result in few changes for the riders who depend on this service,” said Dorothy Yeager, OATS Transit Executive Director. “It will also allow for better efficiencies and greater customer effectiveness.”
JeffCo Express was developed in 2009 by JCCP who saw a need for a general public, deviated fixed route system. Under their leadership, the program grew thanks to collaboration with local agencies and business who stepped up to support the service. JCCP contracted with OATS Transit to provide the service, including dispatching and driver recruitment, but made the decision to hand over administration as part of their continuing efforts to better coordinate services.
Currently, OATS Transit operates three transportation programs in Jefferson County;, all operate under different names- OATS Transit, JC Transit and JeffCo Express. Transportation for Jefferson County is funded by federal grants administered by the MO Department of Transportation, Developmental Disability Advocates, Aging Ahead, Missouri Elderly & Handicapped Assistance Program, and Medicaid Waiver. OATS Transit has also been awarded a grant for $100,000 from the Jefferson Foundation, which will go toward transportation in Jefferson County for 2020.
Jeffco Express has two cross-county routes, which mirror each other, that do three loops a day. The blue route starts in De Soto and travels north to Arnold, and the green route starts in Arnold and travels south. Both routes have stops in Hillsboro, Pevely and Festus. A third route, partially funded through grants from the city of Arnold, circles the city five times a day with more than 30 stops per run.
Jefferson County residents wanting to schedule a ride can call the local Festus office at 636-933-9380. Schedules can be found here: www.oatstransit.org/jefferson, or by picking up a brochure at several local businesses.
