The grant funding for Mitchell County Transportation’s Spruce Pine route, the Pine Line, expires in February 2023, but county officials are already discussing how to keep it running well beyond that point.
The route has proven popular since its inception and continues to grow, said MCT Director Sheila Blalock. Nearly 700 riders utilized the route in March.
Spruce Pine Mayor Darla Harding during the regular meeting of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 2 visited and talked about the Pine Line.
Harding asked that the county consider splitting the cost of operating the Pine Line from February 2023 when the grant funding runs out through June 2023 when the next fiscal year budgets are set.
Harding pointed out that the “wonderful asset” that is the Pine Line gets people to work and stores.
“I think we’re all sharing in an increased sales tax both inside and outside the town,” Harding said. “It’s nothing that we wanted to come over here and say ‘this is something you have to decide tonight.’”
Harding reiterated that the town was asking the commissioners to consider it when setting the next fiscal year’s budget, which will happen in the coming weeks.
Commissioner Matthew “Vern” Grindstaff asked Blalock to look into selling advertising to local businesses, especially bigger ones like Walmart and Ingles.
These businesses, he said, benefit from having the Pine Line bring customers and employees directly to their stores. Businesses could pay to have their logos on the Pine Line bus, he added.
Commissioner Jeff Harding estimated that it would cost the town and county each about $2,700 monthly to fund the Pine Line through June 2023. He urged county and town officials to continue discussing ways to fund the route until more grants can be sought.
“I definitely don’t want to see it lose service,” he said. “In 2024, we’ll figure it out.”