Business Spotlight: SCATS Marshall County– South Central Area Transit Service
SCATS Marshall County, an agency with on-demand rural public transportation service that is available to residents in Marshall County, is located at 1794 Mooresville Hwy. in Lewisburg. Through grants with the South Central TN Development District, 13 counties in south central Tennessee, offer this service.
Beverly George, SCATS Director and Jimmy Griffis, SCATS driver. Photo by Patty Blackburn
SCATS is a great service not only to those in Marshall County who have limited options and residents who have disabilities, but for everyone. Wheelchair lifts are available in at least one of the SCAT vehicles so when the reservation is made, be sure to let them know if a lift is needed. Passengers are required to wear a seat belt and children under the age of 8 must be in a child restraint device when being transported in a SCATS vehicle. The fare is required to be paid to the driver upon getting on the vehicle.
Transportation to appointments and back home, to work and back home, shopping and back home, etc. are offered daily Monday through Friday in Marshall County, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost for trips in the Lewisburg city limits is $2 each way; so $4 total to the required stop and back. Each additional stop is $1 each. Outside the city limits of Lewisburg is $3 each, $6 total to and from the destination. Again, $1 each additional stop. Veterans ride free of charge.
Reservations for SCAT transportation can also be made if medical appointments , etc., are in Franklin, Spring Hill, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Pulaski, Columbia, or Shelbyville. Medical appointments need to be scheduled 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., no later; except for Columbia, which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If going to Franklin or Nashville, the appointment days required are Monday and Thursday only, $35 per trip. Appointments in Spring Hill need to be made Monday thru Friday and the cost is $30 per trip; Murfreesboro, Monday and Thursday only, $30 per trip; to Pulaski, Wednesday only, $20 per trip; Columbia, Monday thru Friday at $25 per trip, to Shelbyville, Wednesday only at $25 per trip. Again the medical appointments, etc., are required to be scheduled 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., except for Columbia which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. These medical appointments must be called in to the SCATS office within 3 business days of the appointment date, not counting the weekend.
All reservations are based on availability and must be made 24 hours in advance.
To ensure availability, a 48 to 72 hour notice is recommended. With 6 full-time drivers and 2 part-time drivers, office personnel schedule the reservations and the number to call to make a reservation when transportation is needed is 931-359-1463. Service is provided Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. ALL RESERVATIONS ARE BASED ON AVAILABILTY
