The COMET to Operate on a Saturday Schedule Starting Thursday, March 19, 2020

(March 18, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced today that transit in the Midlands will operate on a Saturday schedule beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020. The COMET will remain operational for essential travel and riders are asked to observe social distancing practices. Essential travel includes going out for necessary services or supplies, travel for medical reasons and to care for the elderly, minors and people with disabilities. Essential travel also includes travel to work for those individuals providing support services in critical need areas or providing other necessary functions.

These actions come out of concern for both the safety of passengers, the public and our employees and consideration for their needs.

“The COMET will be reducing its service to a Saturday schedule beginning Thursday, March 19 and utilizing the 35-foot and larger vehicles in its fleet that will allow for social distancing as recommended,” said LeRoy DesChamps, Director of Operations and Administration/COO.

Additional updates include:

• Free fares for essential travel on The COMET fixed routes. DART services will remain unchanged.
• Practicing “Exit Door Boarding” – passengers enter and exit via the door towards the rear of the bus.

These changes will be in effect through April 10 with periodic reevaluation as more information becomes available. Saturday Schedule information may be found here:

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About The COMET:  The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, five ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and eastern Lexington Counties and eight Blue Bike bikeshare stations in Downtown Columbia. The COMET transports approximately 2.8 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with Transdev, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, Uber and Bewegen. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: info@catchthecomet.org or visit www.catchthecomet.org.

Catch The COMET…We Will Take You There!