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About Us     FACT in the News     2008
 

ValleyLINK ready to roll
Author: Chris Buckley
Source: Valley Independent
Date: October 18, 2008

A new expanded transit service linking much of the Valley to key sites in Rostraver Township will be unveiled Nov. 3.

ValleyLINK East will connect many Valley communities with the Route 51 area of the township, including Solar Power Industries, Willow Pointe Plaza and both the Mon Valley and Main Campus locations of Westmoreland County Community College.

"The ValleyLINK East will provide more mobility options and address some of the current gaps in our public transit system," said authority Executive Director Valerie Kissell in a prepared statement.

ValleyLINK East will directly serve Solar Power Industries at the Rostraver Airport, the WCCC Mon Valley Center, Willow Pointe Plaza and the Mon-Vale HealthPlex before traveling to the WCCC main campus in Youngwood.  The route will also offer connectivity with two other regional public transportation providers for transfer services to Greensburg and Uniontown.

"I think it's a big step forward in the right direction," said Rostraver Township Supervisor Chairman Nick Lorenzo.  "I met with Solar Power (officials) and they're definitely going to need service to Charleroi and Monessen to get employees to work.  It's a great move on everybody's part.

"Solar Power wants to employ another 150 to 200 people and I'm confident they will get there."

ValleyLINK East will be a collaborative effort among Westmoreland County Transit Authority and Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation.  Mid-Mon transit buses will connect with FACT at the Rostraver Airport to provide connection to Uniontown and with WCTA at the main campus of WCCC in Youngwood to provide connection to Greensburg.

MMVTA buses will connect with FACT's existing service at the Rostraver Airport Park, making at least one trip a day to Uniontown and from Uniontown at least three times a day.

Westmoreland Transit and MMVTA services will connect at WCCC main campus six times.

ValleyLINK East will operate Mondays through Saturdays with morning and evening sweeps of the Valley to reach Solar Power Industries for the 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. shifts.

It will operate daily from Charleroi, North Charleroi and Monessen to the WCCC Mon Valley Center, Rostraver Airport Park and Ride, Willow Pointe Plaza, Mon-Vale HealthPlex and WCCC Main Campus in Youngwood. ValleyLINK East will mark the time transit carriers in the area have provided service among the Valley, Greensburg and Uniontown.

Lorenzo, a member of the transit authority board, said the expanded service has been discussed and studied by the authority for some time.

"I feel we will get the ridership," Lorenzo said.  "It will benefit not only Rostraver, but the whole Valley because it will bring people here to work and to the wellness center, which attracts people from around the Valley for therapy."