Getting around the Tri-State

Exercise your green beliefs by taking advantage of the Tri-State's abundant mass transportation opportunities.

As for visiting family and friends, they also can benefit from these options of transportation and hotels near campus.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

The Transit Authority serves the Huntington area by nine bus routes that provide transit to most locations that are popular with Marshall students, according to TTA's Web site at www.tta-wv.com. TTA operates Monday-Saturday and basic one-way fare is $1. Marshall students, as well as others, can also take advantage of the aptly named Pullman Shuttle, which provides free service from Pullman Square to 20th Street and 6th Avenue from noon-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

TTA also offers service into Lawrence County, Ohio, by way of Ironton, Proctorville and Chesapeake, along with limited service to Ashland, Ky., Monday through Friday.

Most recently, TTA teamed up the West Virginia Division of Public Transit and the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority in Charleston to provide bus service between Huntington and Charleston. The weekday-only service, called Intelligent Transit, leaves Pullman Square at 6:40 a.m. and arrives at the State Capitol at 8 a.m., making stops in Barboursville and Putnam County along the way. The return service leaves Charleston at 5:15 p.m. and make its last stop in Huntington at 6:45 p.m. Fares are $3 one way, or $6 round trip.

All routes serve the TTA center, the Web site states. The center is on 4th Avenue, just two blocks from the Old Main entrance to campus. Service personnel at the TTA Center can give students information about bus fare, routes and schedules. Students can also purchase discount passes and convenience tickets at the center. Call 304-529-RIDE (7433) or e-mail tta@tta-wv.com.

Paratransit (Dial-a-ride) service for the disabled is available in TTA service areas. Fares are twice the regular bus fare for the destination. Call 304-529-7700.

The Wayne X-Press, transportation offered by the Wayne County Community Services Organization based in Wayne, also offers wide-reaching service to students. The bus links to TTA and also to the Ashland, Ky., bus system. For a schedule, call 304-272-5112 or 800-377-6265.

Yellow Cab dispatches 24 hours a day. Call 304-529-7131.

HOTELS

When family and friends come to visit, here are a few hotels not too far from campus:

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 800 3rd Ave., Huntington, 304-523-8880.

Pullman Plaza Hotel, 1001 3rd Ave., Huntington, 304-525-1001.

Ramada Limited, 3140 16th St., Huntington, 304-523-4242.

Super 8, 3090 16th St., Huntington, 304-525-1410.