River Valley Transit Ending Clinton County Service

LOCK HAVEN – Public bus service in Clinton County will end as of Dec. 31. Williamsport-based River Valley Transit began the service on Feb. 20, 2018, part of an RVT expansion into the Lock Haven/Mill Hall corridor of Clinton County.

The bulk of the financing was provided through a grant from the state transportation department and that funding has been ended, effective the end of this year, according to information from Clinton County government.

The county commissioners recently learned of the withdrawal of state financial assistance. The initial grant amounted to $878,862 for three years and was to cover 85 percent of the costs involved, the rest coming from local contributors. Clinton County had provided $9,000 this year and the City of Lock Haven, $9,375; that was part of an annual $45,000 provided to RVT, the rest from local participating sponsors.

According to information at a Williamsport city council meeting earlier this week, the trips into Clinton County drew an average of eight daily riders, the cost for each bus at $150 a trip.

The public transportation had been heralded at a Lock Haven ribbon-cutting in February of 2018. Connector route stops were originally listed at UPMC/Bald Eagle Court, Wayne Township; Clinton Plaza/STEP Community Center, Lock Haven University at Fairview Street, First Quality Lock Haven, Lock Haven Hospital, Clinton County “Piper” Building in Lock Haven; and WalMart in Bald Eagle Township.

The end of RVT service into Clinton County will not affect the transit service’s runs elsewhere.