PITTSTON —Public transportation riders can now travel around the Greater Pittston area without having to connect at the Wilkes-Barre Intermodal Center.
For the first time in Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) history, the company has developed a circulator route which begins and ends in Pittston without going through the Intermodal Center. The Pittston Circulator 2 will begin at the corner of South Main Street and Broad Street, taking riders to Walmart in Pittston Township and back.
LCTA Executive Director Norm Gavlick said the city has seen upgrades and is an area where LCTA did not have sufficient coverage of services.
“We’re always evaluating and looking at our services,” Gavlick said. “Hopefully down the road, as this service progresses, we will look to expand it even further.”
Gavlick said the company has been working on this project for the past six months.
“Pittston has undergone a lot of redevelopment and it was something we felt we had to do,” he said. “We got a lot of feedback about servicing Greater Pittston better.”
Along with the LCTA, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce and the Landmark Community Bank held a gathering Monday morning to kick off the new route.
Many Greater Pittston dignitaries attended the inaugural run, which starts just outside the Landmark Community Bank at 8:45 a.m. weekdays. Representatives from the offices of Sen. John Yudichak, Rep. Mike Carroll and Gov. Tom Wolfe were on hand for the first ride.
From the bank, the route heads up Broad Street to the Pittston Bypass. There is a stop at Planet Fitness in the Pittston Plaza and one at K-Mart. The bus then proceeds to Redner’s Market and swings around Aldi’s prior to heading to Main Street in Dupont and up Route 315 to Walmart.
After leaving Walmart, the bus mimicks its route and heads back toward downtown Pittston. Following the stop at K-Mart, the bus rolls across South Township Boulevard and makes a left on Laurel Street. Once the bus passes the Pittston Diner and Donut Connection, it turns right on William Street. A right on Defoe Street and a left on Butler Street put the bus in front of the Anthracite Apartments on North Main Street.
After the bus hangs a left onto Kennedy Boulevard, it returns to the corner of Broad Street and South Main Street.
Upon leaving the Intermodal Center in Wilkes-Barre at 8:15 a.m., the bus will circulate the route in Pittston, making one return stop at the Intermodal Center. The circulator returns to the center at 11:40 a.m. and returns to Pittston at 1:35 p.m.
The route gives passengers the opportunity to connect with four different routes — West Pittston, Old Forge, the CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park and a route that takes passengers to Mohegan Sun Pocono and the Wyoming Valley Mall.
Michelle Mikitish, executive director of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, said this is a great addition to the people in Pittston looking to shop outside of the downtown area.
“We’re thrilled that we can bring more people into downtown and it’s easier to get into downtown,” Mikitish said. “It’s right in downtown and it can bring people to local businesses and bring outskirts back into town.
“We’re reaching more people and more businesses,” she said. “That combination is great for everyone.”
Brandi Bartush, administrative/events coordinator for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, looks over the new route servicing the Pittston area.
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Brandi Bartush, administrative/events coordinator for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, looks over the new route servicing the Pittston area.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
LCTA’s new Pittston Circulator will take riders from downtown Pittston to K-Mart and Walmart, with stops at several other businesses along the route.
http://psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_LCTA-New-Bus-Rte.-2.jpg
LCTA’s new Pittston Circulator will take riders from downtown Pittston to K-Mart and Walmart, with stops at several other businesses along the route.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Cindy Vough represented PA Sen. John Yudiscak’s office on the inaugural run of LCTA’s Pittston Circulator Monday.
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Cindy Vough represented PA Sen. John Yudiscak’s office on the inaugural run of LCTA’s Pittston Circulator Monday.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
By Nick Wagner
nwagner@timesleader.com
Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick