Martin County hires contractor to finish Ray Street transit upgrades and approves $10 daily Perdue employment route fare

Martin County commissioners approved contracting with A.R. Chesson Construction Co., Inc. to manage remaining renovations at the county’s Ray Street transit facility and authorized a new employment route to a local Perdue plant with a $10 daily round-trip fare.

County Manager David Bone said prior work on the Ray Street project included paving, fencing, lighting, a roof replacement and HVAC upgrades; remaining items include window and door work, ADA-access restrooms and signage. The board approved A.R. Chesson’s proposal to manage the remaining scope of work for $28,199 and instructed staff to execute a budget amendment to provide the county share.

Separately, Transit Director Letecia Loadholt and the Transit Advisory Board recommended offering an RGP/Employment/EDTAP round-trip fare of $10 per person per day for service to Perdue’s Lewiston‑Woodville plant, contingent on at least four riders per vehicle for each shift and a central pick-up/drop-off location. Commissioners approved the fare and conditions unanimously.

Why it matters: The Ray Street project completes a county-owned transit facility that supports public transportation operations; the Perdue route aims to connect residents to employment opportunities but is conditional on minimum rider numbers to be cost-effective.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the Chesson contract and implement the fare change and route if ridership thresholds are met; the project completion goal quoted by the contractor was March 2019.