With funding secured, NFAT plans to reopen in March

NORFOLK, Neb. -- After receiving $500,000 from local donors, the North Fork Area Transit is planning to reopen its doors. So what will that look like?

We asked this question to NFAT's Volunteer Board Vice President Lacy Kimes, who said the service plans to be up and running by March 13. However, for that to happen a number of tasks must be accomplished.

"Our goal is to have our doors open by March 13, but we understand as a board...a lot needs to happen before we can open up those doors," Kimes said. "We need to get drivers and dispatchers hired, we need to make sure that vehicles are ready to go and are safe...we also have local vendors that we need to get paid with that money that we raised."

When these tasks are completed NFAT will slowly roll out features, beginning with the Telelift service, where riders call 24 hours in advance for a ride. Kimes said past services like Nitelift and the flex routes will be implemented later. This includes the sponsored routes that transport workers to their places of employment.

Besides the services, Kimes said a number of changes have occurred behind the scenes, including additional board members as well as more checks and balances to prevent another alleged embezzlement from taking place.

"So right away we did hire a local accounting firm to manage all of the financials and the accounting," Kimes said. "We have added additional members to our Board of Directors as well as additional checks and balances."

The amount of service will also be pulled back, with only six to seven drivers and 10 to 13 vehicles. Kimes said she is grateful to the surrounding community for keeping them afloat and keeping public transportation in Norfolk.

"It feels amazing and really really exciting that our community came forward, they stepped up and they said 'we believe in the value of public transportation'....so it's really exciting that we have reached that $500,000 match," Kimes said. "Without our community, we would not have been able to reach this goal."

Kimes said to stay up to date on all things NFAT, visit the North Fork Area Transit website.