Last Saturday was the first day of a new bus route that takes passengers from the University of Missouri Student Center to the Columbia Farmers Market. Market Director for the Columbia Farmers Market Caroline Todd says the previous busing system didn’t bring the customers to the market early enough.
“In the past the bus did not operate and get to the market until 11:30am, 30 minutes before we close. So that’s why we applied for funding to operate the bus earlier on Saturday because that’s our biggest market day.”
Columbia Public Works Spokesperson Jill Stedem says this new bus route is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.
“It was designed to allow people to have appropriate transportation to get to more affordable groceries and other food needs that are served by the Farmers Market.”
The bus will continue on Saturdays during the summer and serve the Farmers Market through October.