September 2014 - WALT (Wellington Area Local Transit) provides almost 18,000  rides in a year, so trying to keep up with significant wear and tear on vehicles can sometimes be a  challenge. One new bus is a welcome addition to the WALT fleet, which transports passengers over 300 days out of the year. Made possible by a grant from KDOT (which covers 80% of the purchase of the vehicle), a Ford, Diamond Coach bus replaces a 2009-Ford StarTrans bus with over 125,000 miles. “Many in the community depend on us to transport them to work, doctor’s appointments and errands,” says Denee’ Rice, transportation coordinator.

Keith Finley is a regular WALT rider. He rides to McDonald’s 2-3 times per week to visit with friends and uses it to attend Wellington High School sporting events. Finley says all the drivers who transport him are nice. “I like that I don’t have to walk everywhere; I can ride the bus,” says Finley. Mark Saunders, one of the drivers says, “WALT is Keith’s lifeline to the world.”