The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET), in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), is providing free COVID-19 tests for passengers of the bus system. SC DHEC has set up a testing kiosk at COMET Central, the transit hub located on theContinue Reading
What should the future of public transit look like in the Central Midlands region? The COMET wants the community to help decide by responding to two concepts of what a new bus network could look like. Both concepts show how The COMET bus network could be run differently within itsContinue Reading
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced that a driver who is employed by their subcontractor, RATP Dev USA, Inc., tested positive for the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. The driver operated routes 77 and 6 on Monday, 9/7; Soda Cap 1 on Tuesday, 9/8 and last workedContinue Reading
Ron Anderson, Chairman of The COMET Board of Directors, announced The COMET Board has voted to re-bid the Fixed Route and Paratransit Program Contract which is currently held by Transdev Services, Inc of Lombard, Illinois. They are responsible for employing the drivers, performing the maintenance of the busses and otherContinue Reading
Starting this week, the Comet has formed new relationships with Columbia College, and School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties to where their students, employees and faculty can show their ID cards and receive a free ride on all of the Comet fixed route buses, unrestricted. The new partnershipsContinue Reading
Starting this week, The COMET is now using a B5 bio-diesel blend in its 39 large transit buses. This is another initiative at The COMET to help improve the air quality of Richland and Lexington Counties and reduce its carbon footprint. Biodiesel is vegetable-oil based, renewably resourced, less polluting, andContinue Reading
The next COMET public listening sessions will be held in Chapin this Monday, June 24. The sessions are being held throughout the Midlands to solicit input on future plans and recommendations for transit system improvements. Attendees are asked to come and share their comments, concerns and vision for the futureContinue Reading
The Comet has reactivated bus service along I-26 to Newberry. The route is known as Route 93X – I-26 Express takes passengers between Newberry, Samsung, Little Mountain, Chapin, Ballentine, Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge, Harbison Walmart, Prisma Health Richland to Downtown Columbia. The route operates a complete round trip in theContinue Reading