Palmetto Breeze Transit announced on September 28th expanded service to the residents of Colleton County with the addition of a partnership with Genesis Healthcare. This will allow more flexibility for access to the healthcare facilities in Colleton County. As part of this partnership, Palmetto Breeze will place two brand-new vehicles into service to provide transportation to and from Genesis Healthcare System facility locations. In addition, the new service will also help connect residents with existing Palmetto Breeze public transportation services operating in the Walterboro area. This route will add to the current service that includes Route 429 (Walterboro Works), Route 320 (Ruffin/Walterboro to Hilton Head Commuter Route).
Board Chair Latosia Simmons said, “The partnership is intended to provide residents with additional transportation options for accessing healthcare while also helping connect passengers with the existing Palmetto Breeze public transportation network.”
Palmetto Breeze began operations in 1978 at the Beaufort-Jasper Regional Transportation Authority, serving Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Services expanded to Allendale, Colleton, and Hampton counties in 1984 and was rebranded to the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority. In 2004, the Ashley Plantation Shuttle for temporary workers was implemented, and the Allendale County Scooter began operation. In 2005, ridership increased by 37.3% over the previous year. In 2017, the Walterboro Works Circular Local Service began operation, and in 2021 the Breeze Trolley expanded service to include two seasonal routes on Hilton Head for the South Island and the new Mid-Island Routes to carry visitors between locations on the island.
Palmetto Breeze has an online survey that they are asking residents to go online and fill out to help assess future transportation needs in the Lowcountry: https://www.palmettobreezetransit.com/colleton-county-public-transportation
