Coast RTA’s Conway/Myrtle Beach route to see changes in September

Coast RTA is proposing a route change on one of its more popular routes — Conway to Myrtle Beach — in an effort to trim often traffic-clogged commute along U.S. 501.

Officials with Coast plan to hear comments from the public at its third and final public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday in its board room at the Conway complex, 1418 Third Avenue, Conway.

The route, which already saw a slight shift beginning June 15, rerouting the bus that went down Postal Way to Carolina Forest Boulevard. The new route will continue on Postal Way to Oakheart Road and then west to Glenforest Road, which runs parallel with U.S. 501. The route then weaves through Tanger Outlet before letting out onto U.S. 501 at Waccamaw Pines Drive.

Brian Piascik, general manager of Coast, said instead of 80 percent of the route being on U.S. 501, now 20 percent of it will be on the main transportation artery to and from the beach.

“It’s just a huge difference,” Piascik said. “Our on-time performance has really improved, and I like it because of the safety aspect. We’re not picking people off of [U.S.] 501.”

Al D’Andrea, street supervisor for Coast, said transportation times could be cut by as much as 12 minutes.

“I don’t see any reason it’s not going to improve the timing of the routes... probably somewhere between 8 to 12 minutes,” D’Andrea said. “It’s significant because of the lights. The light at Carolina Forest and 501, the light at [Tanger Outlet] and 501, the light at Waccammaw Pines and 501. It’s safer. There are people who get on the bus out there at 501, and now they’ll be able to go back on Glenforest.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Coast RTA’s Conway/Myrtle Beach route to see changes in September."