New bus service shifts into gear in Seneca County

TIFFIN — A flex-route bus service provided by Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation called the Shelton Shuttle began its first day of routes Monday. The service has four vehicles and three routes to serve the city of Tiffin and portions of rural Seneca County. Though three routes are planned for the service, only one is currently in operation until SCAT secures more drivers. The current route connects riders to shopping and businesses on the east and west sides of Tiffin, and runs from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The buses cost $1 to ride. In the future, SCAT plans to open two other routes. One would link to government services, shopping and dining in downtown Tiffin; and another would serve the industrial parks based on shift changes. Depending on demand, routes may eventually run for limited weekend hours. Employees from SCAT worked closely with local officials like the Seneca County Commissioners to decide where bus stops and routes would be located. "I'm proud to be able to work with the individuals at SCAT who have put in the time and resources to make this bus route possible to benefit the citizens of Seneca County," said Mike Kerschner, president of the Seneca County Board of Commissioners. Each of the service's four vehicles was purchased through grant funding — two through state funds, and two through federal funds. The Shelton Shuttle project has been in the works for seven years. David Shelton first arranged a meeting with Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz in 2014; then, Heidelberg Business Institute completed Phase 1 of the Feasibility Study in 2015. A formal study was conducted by RLS in 2018. "This is a fantastic resource for our community, bringing people to local businesses and helping to transport workers," Montz said. "I'm proud that we can offer this service to the people of Tiffin." Since 2018, SCAT has accrued enough grants to fully fund the service for its first 18 months through the Ohio Transit Partnership Program and federal CARES Act. For more information on the Shelton Shuttle, or to apply to be a driver, call 567-938-8055.