"We are currently targeting veterans with this program, because it eliminates the need to depend on friends or family to drive them two hours or more one way to Dallas for an appointment or an afternoon on the town, and get them there for less money than if they took a private car. Public transit systems are already in place, and can be used by anyone. Our Basic Training will show folks how to use public transportation," said John Hedrick, Director of Transportation at ETCOG.

 

The kickoff event, which will feature the veterans traveling from several East Texas cities (Marshall, Longview and Mineola) to Amtrak stations, taking Amtrak to Dallas, and then DART to their Dallas destinations (stopping at the Dallas VA Hospital), and then returning to East Texas without having to ask anyone for a ride.

 

Media are invited to join EasTexConnects for the full trip, or to meet at Tyler Transit at 8:25 AM to join the passengers in their travels to Mineola, where they will stop for a photo as they are joined by other passengers at the Amtrak station before departing at 9:25 AM. Please email Lindsay Vanderbilt to reserve your seat at Lindsay.Vanderbilt@etcog.org 

 

AM Departures PM Arrivals

Marshall7:50 AMDepart Dallas: 3:40 PM

Longview8:28 AMMineola5:15 PM

Mineola9:25 AMLongview6:15 PM

Arrive at Dallas: 11:30 AM Marshall7:01 PM

 

For more information, contact ETCOG's Director of Transportation, John Hedrick, at 903.984.8641 x 242.

About EasTexConnects

EasTexConnects was formed by Texas Transportation Code 461, and formerly known as the East Texas Regional Transportation Coordination Planning Steering Committee. The committee includes representatives from stakeholders throughout the region and meets every other month in Kilgore. EasTexConnects is administered by the East Texas Council of Governments.

 

About ETCOG

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is a voluntary association of counties, cities, school districts and special districts within the fourteen-county East Texas region. ETCOG assists local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. Established in 1970, ETCOG, either directly, or through its contractors, provides programs and services for East Texas seniors, employers, and job seekers. ETCOG and its contractors also build the 9-1-1 emergency call delivery system, provide peace officer training and homeland security planning services; and deliver rural transportation services, business finance programs, and environmental grant funding for the region.