Staff Report
Published March 29, 2012

Dorchester County residents who ride the TriCounty Link commuter buses should use the new park and ride location at the corner of Berlin G. Myers Parkway and Gahagan Road in Summerville, beginning April 2.

The Heritage Square shopping center location will no longer be available for use after that date.

The switch in park and ride locations coincides with the opening of a new commuter service for the county. The Dorchester Connector will operate between Summerville and St. George on weekdays between 6 and 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 3 to 7 p.m.

“With gas prices steadily increasing the Dorchester Connector will not only be a more cost-effective, long-term alternative to driving, but the new service will be free during the first three months — April 2 through June 29,” said Will Hutto, executive director of TriCounty Link.

To encourage people to ride, free wireless Internet service will be offered on the buses, and there will also be opportunities to enter to win a flat-screen television. TriCounty Link’s Commuter Solutions program began with three routes in 2008 and expanded to five routes in 2011.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, the largest rate of growth in transit ridership was in rural communities with populations under 100,000. TriCounty Link’s ridership increased 7.5% last year.

An event to kick off the new route will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Dorchester County Council Chambers, 500 Main St., in Summerville.

For more information, contact TriCounty Link at 843-899-4096 or 800-966-6631, or visit the website at www.ridetricountylink.com.