Valley Transit, in partnership with United Way Fox Cities, is pleased to announce the launch of their new service, The Connector. The Connector extends regular bus routes beyond standard route boundaries to help local residents more easily reach their jobs or other places that may fall outside of regular Valley Transit service areas. The Connector also operates beyond normal Valley Transit hours, which will provide access to public transportation for those who work second or third shift. The Connector is available to all area residents.

The Connector is a unique solution developed by Valley Transit and the United Way Fox Cities Basic Needs & Self-Sufficiency Impact Area, which discovered the need for expanded hours and coverage area when it came to public transportation in the Fox Cities during its most recent LIFE Study.

The new service fills a key need in the Fox Cities, especially in helping workers get to and from their jobs, said Mary Klein, a vice president with M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank and the past chair of the United Way’s Providing Basic Needs & Self-Sufficiency Impact Area.

“Improving access to transportation was identified as a priority by the United Way Basic Needs and Self -Sufficiency Impact Area. By working to remove transportation as a barrier and improving access, the Impact Area hopes to promote increased self-sufficiency for the working poor,” Klein said.

The Connector offers transportation 20 hours a day, six days a week. (The Connector does not operate between midnight and 4 a.m., on Sundays or on holidays.) The Connector Zone is roughly bordered by County JJ to the north, State 76 to the West, County G to the south and Harwood Road to the east.

“Through a partnership with 13 municipalities, Valley Transit is able to serve many areas of the Fox Cities, but as our community grows, we face the challenge of limited financial resources to support additional service to growing urban and rural areas,” said Chuck Rundquist, chairman of the Fox Cities Transit Commission. “The Connector is the first step in providing a solution to that challenge. We are proud to be partners with United Way on this innovative service that connects Fox Cities residents with their jobs and community.”

The United Way and Valley Transit will be working with four local non-profit organizations – ADVOCAP, Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley, Goodwill Industries and Valley Packaging Industries – to track and measure the impact The Connector has in helping individuals improve their employment situation, Klein said.

To access The Connector, residents can call United Way 2-1-1, who will transfer them to a dispatcher to schedule a ride. Or residents can call Valley Transit directly at (920) 832-5800. All rides need to be scheduled at least two hours in advance and can be arranged up to 14 days in advance. If riders need to cancel, a call is required at least one hour prior to the scheduled ride. Transportation is provided by Kobussen Buses, Ltd., under contract with Valley Transit.

How The Connector works

There are three main ways The Connector will provide service to local residents. All fares must be paid with cash in the exact amount. Drivers cannot make change.

1) Traveling TO The Connector Zone: Valley Transit bus service will take passengers to a transfer point closest to their final destination and The Connector will then take passengers the rest of the way. For each one-way trip, passengers will pay $1.50 (or their normal fare) on the bus and $1.50 on The Connector.