On Mondays from 8 to 8:25 a.m., residents of Lamar can hop aboard a bus and head to Timmonsville and then Darlington. That route will loop back three more times throughout the day and finish from 4:50 to 5:10 p.m. in Lamar.

Fares are $1 within one city and $3 for all other trips. Genesis patients with IDs ride free to and from Pee Dee Health Care and pharmacy. People 65 and over, persons with disabilities, veterans with ID and Medicare card holders ride for half fare. Children under 42 inches ride free, children above 42 inches ride for regular fare.

Tuesdays will see residents of Coward getting on the bus from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. with access to Scranton, Lake City and Olanta. That route continues at regular intervals throughout the day until 5  to 5:35 p.m.

The fare is $2 within one city and $3 for all other trips one way. The same rules apply regarding Genesis patients, seniors, vets, persons with disabilities and children.

On Wednesdays, residents of Coward will see service get underway at 6:45 to 7:05 a.m. and head to Darlington from Scranton, Lake City, Olanta, Lamar and Timmonsville. From 10:10 to 10:30 a.m. there will be inbound trips from Darlington to Lamar, Timmonsville, Olanta, Lake City, Scranton and Coward.

One-way fares are $1 within one city; fares are $4 for Olanta to Darlington and $3 for all other trips with the same rules.

In looking at the authority's finances, MacNeil said halfway through the fiscal year, there's a $42,000 surplus.

"So for a $2.5 million budget, that's pretty good," he said, adding that "every month is an adventure" because cash flow is inconsistent. Insurance payments, which total about $100,000 a year, cause spikes when they're due.

The board agreed on a 5 p.m. April 21 retreat before its regular meeting to informally get to know each other better and to strengthen ties.

As required under a pending review from the S.C. Department of Transportation, MacNeil had to submit thousands of pages of documentation to ensure compliance with state regulations, and he expects DOT representatives to visit in February.

The board also updated drug and alcohol use policies with only minor changes. One involved the authority no longer needing an on-staff counselor; employees would be counseled off site. Training for the management to keep current with drug and alcohol policies would now only need to be done every three years instead of each year.

Financial management software updates were also approved, and would see $7,360 spent to bring up to date general ledger accounting, a fixed asset module and a human resources component. Federal grants would pay for the bulk of the updates, said Sandy Garris, the purchasing manager.

MacNeil also informed the board that Garris, who has been in charge of purchasing for the last 12 years, will retire at the end of March.

We certainly are very grateful for all the work she's done," he said, as she's been "very involved with the board," and has put in "a l ot of work and a lot of time."

For more information about the bus routes, call 843-665-2227 ext. 2 or visist www.PDRTA.org.