Commuter buses drop fares for essential workers coming to Hilton Head during coronavirus
The bus service that crisscrosses the Lowcountry to bring people to work near Hilton Head Island and Bluffton has dropped its fare for two months and installed Plexiglas shields onboard during the coronavirus pandemic.
Palmetto Breeze, which operates routes from Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Colleton counties to Beaufort County, announced it would also give out free face masks to its riders to help slow the spread of the virus.
The moves by Palmetto Breeze, considered an essential service to the hundreds of riders who commute several hours to their jobs on the island, are designed to keep employees safe during the ride.
“Public transportation in the Lowcountry and across the country continues to be an essential service during this pandemic, so we are always exploring new ways to add to the precautions we are taking to protect our passengers and employees,” Mary Lou Franzoni, Palmetto Breeze executive director, said in a news release.
Monthly fares for commuters coming from other counties range from $100 to $160, according to the Palmetto Breeze website. In an April 17 email, Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka said that fares would be dropped through June 30.
Commuters who rely on the buses work at assisted living facilities, McDonald’s, grocery stores, and other businesses that are still up and running on the island, according to previous reporting by The Island Packet.
When riders board the buses this week, they will now see a Plexiglas barrier between them and the driver. Palmetto Breeze also announced other precautions last week, including:
- Providing bus operators with wipes, gloves, disinfectant and hand sanitizer.
- Requiring passengers ride with an appropriate amount of distance between each other to maintain the recommended social distance.
- Suggesting passengers wear cloth masks while riding and while out in public.
- Cleaning all bus interiors more frequently.
- Educating staff about prevention measures
- Encouraging employees and passengers to wash hands frequently, use sanitizers, and to stay home if they feel ill.
“Transit systems across the United States have installed similar driver shields, so we decided to prioritize their installation since we are continuing to provide our essential commuter services,” Franzoni said of the new barriers in the release.
Palmetto Breeze changes
Although all commuter lines are still running during the coronavirus, Palmetto Breeze has suspended service on three routes:
- The USCB Bluffton to Hilton Head Route (Route 508)
- The Daufuskie Island Ferry Shuttle Route (Route 509)
- Bluffton to Palmetto Bluff (Route 863)
The Breeze, the trolley that runs between Hilton Head’s Shelter Cove and the Coligny Beach area, has postponed its April 1 opening date and not yet begun island transportation.
This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
