Carbon County residents who utilize Carbon Transit are urged to attend a public meeting on Monday that will cover proposed changes to routes throughout the county.

On Thursday, the commissioners said that the meeting, slated for 10 a.m. on July 1 at 44 Susquehanna St., Jim Thorpe, is a chance for people who utilize the public transportation to voice their needs and what is needed in the county.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to try and find a way to get to that meeting and be at that meeting,” Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko said. “That’s where we hear back from you and I know we always hear different concerns and nobody listens or nobody cares but we do and that’s why there is that meeting at that time. That’s why LANTA is coming in to hear those concerns.”

Sofranko said it is important to attend because this is the way the county will know what is needed in the county regarding transportation.

“You may think that nobody’s listening, but we are,” Sofranko said. “That’s why some changes have happened. We were presented with some proposals and that’s why it is important to come to that.”

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that people have to report on where they need service.

“LANTA is happy for them to come in,” Ahner said. “They don’t look at it as complaints. They need information so they can make the service better. We want the service better.”

The Carbon Transit meeting, conducted by LANTA which oversees the operations, is proposing service changes, beginning Aug. 26.

The proposed changes aim to create access to Summit Hill, Jim Thorpe Heights and Mauch Chunk Lake; more frequent service in the Jim Thorpe-Lehighton areas; reintroduce service to Whitehall on Saturdays; provide flexible service options to some municipalities; and change routes.

A complete list of changes and the proposed routes can be found at https://carbontransit.com/proposed-august-2024-service-changes.

Residents can attend the meeting in-person or virtually. The link to the virtual meeting can be found at the aforementioned website.