Public transit, available to all residents, has come to Tyrrell County.

Hyde Transit, a privately owned and operated corporation based in Swan Quarter, has contracted with Tyrrell County and is operating its own fleet here plus the vans formerly used in Tyrrell’s TRIP system for senior citizens.

The new public transit system here is being called Tyrrell County Gator Line, and its slogan is “Let’s get you where you want to go!”

Gator Line director Beverly Paul listed some basic information all Tyrrell residents ought to know:

1. The Gator Line provides public transportation services that are available to everyone.

2. In-county general public services are available Monday through Friday 7 a.m. through 5 p.m.

3. Out-of-county services days and destinations are published monthly in a calendar.

4. To make reservations to ride the Gator Line, call the office by noon of the day prior to your reservation. The office number is 252-926-1637.

5. You can use public transportation to go to medical appointments, visit friends, shopping, work, library, the beach, etc.

Round-trip fares for the Gator Line are $2 for destinations inside Tyrrell County, $3 to Plymouth or Edenton, $4 to Washington, Williamston, Outer Banks, or Elizabeth City, and $5 to Greenville. A one-way ride inside Tyrrell County is $1.20.

Out-of-county trips scheduled for the remainder of July are to Edenton each Tuesday and Thursday, to Washington on July 17, to Greenville on July 19, and to the Outer Banks on July 26.

Edenton trips are scheduled to arrive in Edenton at 8 a.m. and depart for Columbia at 12:45 p.m. The Washington trip on July 17 is scheduled to arrive there at 2 p.m. and depart from Washington at 6 p.m. The Greenville trip on July 19 is to arrive in Greenville at 12 noon and depart at 4 p.m.

The Outer Banks trip on July 16 will be a special trip, Paul stated. “We are going to visit the Consignment shops on the Outer Banks for a fun day of shopping. However, if you have somewhere else you need to go, by all means hop on board and we will get you there too! We will arrive in Manteo by 10 a.m. and depart the Outer Banks by 3 p.m. to return home.”

Paul advises riders to schedule doctor’s appointments close to the arrival time set for that destination “so we can make sure your appointment is finished by the time we are scheduled to leave.”

Dee Dee Bullock, Tyrrell Adult Activities Center director, who headed up TRIP, Tyrrell’s senior transportation system, made this statement: “Senior citizens will now have transportation service provided to access the senior center Monday-Friday. This is at no cost to them. In-county errands and out-of-county trips will be charged a fare according to the rate chart. Transportation will also now be available to all residents of Tyrrell County.”

Bullock also announced that a mass mailing was to go out by July 7 and a public forum is scheduled for July 19 at 6 p.m. in the Senior Center on Bridge Street in Columbia.

Transportation to the public forum will be available upon request provided residents call Hyde Transit’s number — 252- 926-1637 — by 12 noon on July 18.

In 2015 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 11% of Tyrrell households had no motor vehicle available to them.