County Council Votes to Extend Bus Service Through September

Richland County Council voted Tuesday to pay about $417,000 to the Central Midlands Transit Authority to help keep the bus system running through September. 

That amount is a portion of the $1.6 million Richland County had allocated already to the CMRTA for the 2012 fiscal year. 

Columbia City Council also voted Tuesday to pay $950,000 to the CMRTA to help keep buses running, according to a report from The State. The city already had committed $3.8 million for the year to CMRTA. 

The three-month extension gives the City of Columbia, Richland County and Lexington County time to establish an intergovernmental agreement on how to colloborate on transit, said county spokeswoman Stephany Snowden.  

However, the extension came with stipulations. Columbia City Council and Richland County Council both agreed to extend funding, if the CMRTA would hire a firm to conduct a financial audit, hire an interim executive director and begin the restructuring process of the 16-member board.