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posted on Sunday, August 09, 2020

The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) brought home two top SCDOT awards from the recent Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) conference: Best Urban Transit Provider of the Year, and bus operator Amy Ragin was named best driver of the year.

The best driver award was presented to Ms. Ragin at the Statewide Rodeo Banquet on Saturday, February 6. Ms. Ragin, a native of Dillon, has been employed by PDRTA since June 2006 and has received Employee of the Month awards on two separate occasions. The best driver award was presented to Ms. Ragin as a result of her exemplary actions in assisting a customer who was experiencing a heart attack.

Glennith Johnson, Deputy Secretary, SCDOT Mass Transit Division presented the Best Urban Transit System award to Executive Director Janice Baroody, citing PDRTA's administrative and operational excellence, sound fiscal management, improved public relations, and increased civic involvement; all of which have resulted in increased ridership.

"PDRTA is very honored to accept the Best Transit System award on behalf of all our customers and employees. We're also very proud that Amy Ragin received well deserved recognition from the SCDOT and the entire South Carolina transit industry for her exceptional customer care. We look forward to continuing to serve the transportation needs of the Pee Dee Region and being part of efforts to improve the economic health of our communities.", said Executive Director Janice Baroody.

Serving a geographic area of over 3,500 square miles, PDRTA has expanded the Florence Transit System during a time when the national transportation trend was to cut service and/or raise fares. Several additional accomplishments cited in the award include:

• Creating new routes serving the outskirts of the Florence area.
• Increasing the number of daily trips on the Lake City to Myrtle Beach service, a route that has enabled workers to meet adjusted work schedules created as a result of the economic downturn.
• Developing partnerships with Northeastern Technical College; Francis Marion University; the US Census Bureau; the United Motorcoach Association; as well as City and County governments, to provide services that provide direct benefits to the communities within PDRTA's service area.
• Being "at the table" to encourage the inclusion of bus shelter and bus stop areas at subdivisions and affordable housing projects.

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