There is good news for those without transportation in Bell County.

The Bell County Health Department, Save Bell (an anti-drug coalition), and the ride service company RTEC are working together to provide bus rides throughout the county.

The new service has been a topic of conversation in Bell County for a long time.

“For years now anytime there is a public meeting and concerns are brought up, one of the number one things is public transportation in Bell County,” said Bell County Health Department Public Health Director Teresa Hunter.

A grant is helping to get the service started.

There will be a $1 to $2 fee for the ride, depending on which ride a person takes. The transportation is open to everyone.

“You just have a lot of people that can go to school, they can work with this program that we’ve started,” Hunter said. Different routes will run throughout the county and RTEC will be providing those rides, which will be available on

Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

”We are excited to be partnering with Bell County and to help the citizens of Bell County. We are optimistic and look forward to seeing the ridership grow as we move forward,” said Tyler Burris with RTEC.

Pam Sulfridge with Save Bell said it is important to offer these services to everyone, and it can help those suffering from addiction.

“We originally wanted this to be for folks in recovery,” Sulfridge said.

“There are a lot of people that need access to treatment, access to counseling and they have no transportation,” Hunter said.

The route for the buses will include about 11 stops in Middlesboro and Pineville. A route schedule can be found on www.ridertec.org.