Recommendations / Transportation / Big Idea #3: Peacock Transit

Big Idea #3: Peacock Transit

Part of the "THE DALTON BELIEVERS" initiative

TransportationDalton-Whitfield Under $250,000

Overview

Peacock Transit proposes improving utilization and accessibility of the Whitfield County Transit Service to better connect economically disadvantaged students and families to education, healthcare, groceries, employment, extracurricular activities, community programs, and local support resources. The initiative begins with immediate, low-cost improvements such as marketing, multilingual outreach, free bus passes through trusted community organizations, and additional community activity routes. It then moves into bus driver training, a renewed transit feasibility study, and long-term fixed-route transit expansion.

Action plan

Short-term
Launch a marketing and outreach campaign to increase awareness of Whitfield County Transit Service. Communicate through newspapers, social media, school systems, texts from schools to parents, Digname News, direct communication in English and Spanish, and trusted Hispanic-serving organizations. Provide complimentary bus passes through community organizations that residents already trust. Add two additional community activity routes.
Medium-term
Improve existing transportation capacity through bus driver training and a renewed feasibility study. Work with school systems and community partners to train additional drivers, address rider safety concerns, and explore cost-effective expansion options based on updated population, ridership, and community needs.
Long-term
Use feasibility study findings to support transit expansion, including fixed routes and optimal stops that connect students and families to schools, health care, employment, shopping, factories, community centers, and after-school activities. Long-term transit expansion should support educational outcomes, public health, workforce access, and community participation.

Expected impact

Projected Public Transit UseInfrastructure

Tracks increased usage of Whitfield County Transit Service after marketing, outreach, free passes, added routes, and community partnerships.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Accessibility ExpansionEquity

Tracks complimentary bus passes distributed to residents through trusted community organizations.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Transportation ExpansionInfrastructure

Tracks the estimated cost of extra routes for community activity.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Outreach CampaignsOperational

Tracks implementation of multilingual public transit marketing and awareness campaigns using newspapers, social media, school communications, trusted organizations, and English/Spanish messaging.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Resource DependencyOperational

Tracks the feasibility study needed to evaluate transit expansion, route optimization, fixed-route potential, costs, frequency, capacity, and community need.

Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Participation RateEducational

Tracks student and family access to extracurricular activities, parent-teacher conferences, and school-related opportunities requiring transportation.

Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Community PartnershipsCommunity

Tracks trusted community organizations and partners involved in distributing passes, promoting transit, and connecting residents to transportation information.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Operational CostOperational

Tracks estimated cost of complimentary bus passes for local residents.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Transportation ExpansionInfrastructure

Tracks added community activity routes to connect families and students to programs and events.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Operational CostOperational

Tracks total estimated budget for the Peacock Transit proposal.

Timeframe: Short-term

Key stakeholders

Whitfield County Transit AuthorityDalton Public SchoolsWhitfield County SchoolsGreater Dalton Chamber of CommerceBelieve Greater DaltonCoalición de Líderes Latinos (CLILA)Latin American AssociationLarge Private Sector EmployersCity of RefugeUnited Way

Estimated budget

Estimated budget shown is $62,000. Budget includes complimentary bus passes for local residents at $10,000, extra routes for community activity at $12,000, and a feasibility study at $40,000.