The Mountaineer Express blazes a 21st century trail through the Yadkin Valley. Stopping along U.S. 421 at points including Baptist Hospital, Wilkes Community College and Appalachian State University, this Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation bus climbs from Greensboro to Boone and descends the mountain four times each day.

According to PART Operations Manager David Morris, the Mountaineer Express, which has now been making its trek for three years, is considering adding a new stop in the Elkin-Jonesville area to its route.

PART is currently investigating the possibility of including a “park and ride lot” at Asbury Church Road in Hamptonville, near the intersection of Interstate-77 and U.S. 421, to the Mountaineer Express's list of regularly scheduled stops.

A PART park and ride stop already exists at the Asbury Church Road site as a destination on PART's Yadkin County Express line, which runs from Hamptonville to Winston-Salem. Using the site for the Mountaineer Express line would mean that Elkin and Jonesville residents would have closer access to the PART bus line that runs between Gaylon Depot in Greensboro and Appalachian State University and Boone Mall.

Currently, the closest stop to Elkin and Jonesville on the Mountaineer Express is at Yadkinville's Colonial Shoppes.

Morris estimates that an average of 2,000 people per month use the Mountaineer Express to travel from points along U.S. 421 between Greensboro and Boone. The bus line stops at several major points including both Greensboro and Winston-Salem's bus stations, Baptist and Forsyth Hospitals, Wilkes Community College and Appalachian State University.

Because of its access to a variety of locations, the Mountaineer Express attracts a diverse group of riders – from students traveling to WCC and ASU to workers looking for efficient, long-range public transportation.

"Some of the riders work, others are going to medical appointments or on shopping trips. Many are going to school. It's a combination of all those people," said Morris of frequent Mountaineer Express riders.

Given its wide range of riders, PART makes use of internet communications to inform its riders of schedule changes. PART uses not only an email list to reach its riders with schedule updates, but also new social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

"Our number of riders has steadily inclined, and we've grown every year we've been operating," said Morris. "In 2008, there was a tremendous spike in gas prices, so we saw a spike in ridership in that year. Many liked it and continued to ride ever since."

With an expanding ridership, PART is now turning to the Elkin-Jonesville market to determine if the community interest in using the Mountaineer Express is significant enough to include the towns on its list of scheduled stops.

Morris said that the best way for Elkin and Jonesville residents to express their interest in a local Mountain Express park and ride stop is to call PART's Administrative Office directly at 336-662-0002.

For more information on the Mountaineer Express or other PART bus line schedules, call PART's Dispatch Office at 336-883-7278 or visit www.partnc.org.