From meager beginnings to a state of the art fleet of buses and vans, Southern Oklahoma Rural Transit System (SORTS) marks its 25th year of providing public transportation to residents of Bryan County.

Operated by Big Five Community Services, the program began in 1985 when federal funds became available for rural areas of the country to develop a means of affordable transportation. For many areas, including southeastern Oklahoma, bus and taxi service was on the decline, making it difficult for elderly and low-income people to travel within their community.

Big Five started the service with three high mileage vans and a handicap bus. Within three months they were able to replace two of the unreliable vans with new ones subsidized by the federal program. As they continue into a quarter century, the service now boosts 17 modem vans and buses and four part time vehicles with routes throughout the county and medical transit for patients throughout the state and into Texas.

In 1984, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) notified Big Five, that the state was about to lose millions in funding unless rural transit programs were developed and the funds allocated to those programs.

The director of program planning attended a meeting in Oklahoma City to obtain a copy of the grant application and immediately began working on 'a plan to develop the program here.

A major obstacle was to find matching funds before being able to move forward with the application.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University was the sponsor of a senior transportation program administered by the local AARP. It was operating on a shoestring budget with few federal funds available, three old vans, a bus and no way to replace the old vans. The planner met with officials from SOSU and they agreed they had a big problem in the immediate future with funding.

The senior transit was funded by the City of Durant, Bryan County commissioners and The United Way. Those funds and the current infrastructure which although very weak, would be the basis for applying for federal funding, but first the planner would have to convince local funding sources to agree to continue with their support.

After several public meetings the plan was finally taken to Dr. Leon Hibbs, who was president of SOSU at the time. Hibbs was aware of the pending demise of the current program and quickly agreed to relinquish the senior program in favor of making it open to the public qualifying for federal funding.

There was some doubt the public would respond to a public transit system, but that doubt was put to rest soon after the service began. The public immediately began using the service and SORTS was able to contract to provide Head Start transportation. Low income residents viewed it as an affordable alternative to owning a vehicle.

Allen Leaird, SORTS director, said 95 percent of the modern fleet are handicapped accessible and provides a critical service for Medicare and Medicaid patients who have to travel to Oklahoma City, Tulsa or Dallas for kidney dialysis or other health related problems.

“For many elderly riders, this service is a last step before having to enter a nursing home,” said Leaird. “Our drivers cater to their needs just like their children would. They picked them up for doctor visits, shopping or whatever they need and help them with packages when they arrive home.”

Riders pay a minimal fee to ride the buses. Inside the city, elderly and disabled riders pay 75 cents one way and the public pays $1.50. They also have a special phone number for hearing and speech-impaired riders. Routes are run throughout the county with outlying communities served on a weekly basis.

“Future plans include going green,” said Leaird. “We hope to convert our vehicles over to natural gas when the infrastructure is in place within the state.”

He said presently some universities and municipalities have converted to natural gas, which is in abundant supply in Oklahoma, as an affordable means of fuel. When natural gas infrastructure expands to include rural areas, he plans to order vehicles that have been converted for that fuel at the factory.

Big Five is a community action agency administering programs in five counties. The transportation program is operated in Bryan, Love, Carter and Coal counties. Carter County has added a trolley style bus to its fleet and Leaird hopes to put one in Bryan County in the near future. “I think it would be an asset to tourism here,” he added.

For the merchants in Bryan County the buses give their customers, especially the elderly a chance to shop locally. The buses are all equipped with two-way radios. Anyone wishing a ride to shop, make a doctor's appointment or any other reason can call 924-1177 and the dispatcher will send a bus to pick them up. The service operates from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for special medical runs outside of the area.

The transit service employs 18 people and averages 450 passenger trips daily. That number is expected to increase if the economy takes a downturn as low income residents find the service more economical than owning a vehicle.

“It's always a struggle to maintain program funding,” said Leaird. “We value SORTS’ place in the community and will continue serving all segments.”

Because of the tremendous growth and success of the program, Leaird was given the Lifetime Achievement Award recently by the state association of transit providers.