Can I get help affording a car?

Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.

What is Medicaid NEMT?

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).

Are there reduced-fare transit options?

Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.

What if I live in a rural area with no bus?

Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.

Transportation in South Carolina

13 verified resources.

About Transportation for Fathers

Transportation assistance helps fathers get to work, court, medical appointments, and childcare. Public transit passes are often available free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and social service agencies. Many job training programs cover bus passes. The Ways to Work program and some community action agencies provide low-interest car loans to working parents. State DMVs typically require proof of insurance and current registration; low-cost insurance programs exist for low-income drivers in several states (California's Low Cost Auto Insurance is one example). For rural fathers without reliable transit, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs are coordinated through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. Medicaid NEMT covers rides to covered medical visits at no cost. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance programs.

Transportation in South Carolina

South Carolina family courts handle divorce, custody, and support in each of its 16 judicial circuits. The Child Support Services Division operates under the Department of Social Services. Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant are the largest cities. South Carolina Legal Services is the primary LSC-funded civil legal aid program statewide.

13 Resources

1. CARTA – Charleston Area Transit — Paid

Public bus service across the Charleston metro area, including fathers commuting to work, custody exchanges, or appointments. CARTA operates fixed routes and paratransit from the John Street hub with service Monday through Saturday. Call customer service or visit online for route maps, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment or a reloaded pass each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors and eligible riders.

843-724-7420 · 36 John St, Charleston, SC 29403 · Service Mon-Sat

2. Greenlink – Greenville Transit — Paid

Public bus service in the Greenville area including routes useful for work commutes, custody exchanges, and appointments. Greenlink operates fixed routes out of the West McBee Avenue downtown hub Monday through Saturday. Call customer service or visit online for maps, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors, students, and eligible low-income riders.

864-467-5000 · 100 W McBee Ave, Greenville, SC 29601 · Mon-Sat 5:45am-9pm · Visit Website

3. The COMET – Columbia Transit — Paid

Public bus system serving the Columbia metro area, used by fathers commuting to work, appointments, and custody exchanges. The COMET operates fixed routes out of the Gervais Street transit center Monday through Saturday. Call customer service or visit online for maps, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors, students, and eligible low-income or disabled riders.

803-255-7100 · 1501 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201 · Mon-Sat 5:30am-10pm · Visit Website

4. Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority — Paid

Public transit serving Florence, Darlington, and surrounding Pee Dee-area communities. PDRTA operates fixed routes and demand-response service from the North Irby Street office in Florence during weekday hours. Call customer service or visit online for maps, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors, students, and eligible low-income riders in member counties.

843-665-2227 · 611 N Irby St, Florence, SC 29501 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm · Visit Website

5. SC Department of Transportation – Transit — Free

State transit programs and rural transportation assistance for South Carolina communities. SCDOT coordinates funding for local transit authorities, vanpools, and human-service transportation statewide from the Park Street headquarters in Columbia. Call during weekday hours or visit online for program information. Fathers in rural counties can ask staff to identify local providers offering low-cost rides to work and appointments.

803-737-1270 · 955 Park St, Columbia, SC 29201 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Waccamaw Regional Transit – Coast RTA — Paid

Public transit serving the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand area. Coast RTA operates fixed routes and paratransit from the 3rd Avenue hub in Conway Monday through Saturday. Call customer service or visit online for maps, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors, students, and eligible low-income riders commuting to work, school, or appointments.

843-488-0865 · 1418 3rd Ave, Conway, SC 29526 · Mon-Sat 6am-9pm · Visit Website

7. Santee Wateree Regional Transit Authority — Paid

Public transit serving Sumter, Clarendon, and surrounding counties with fixed routes and demand-response service. SWRTA operates from the South Harvin Street office in Sumter during weekday hours. Call customer service or visit online for route schedules, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors and eligible low-income riders commuting to work or appointments.

803-934-0396 · 129 S Harvin St, Sumter, SC 29150 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm · Visit Website

8. Lowcountry Regional Transit Authority — Paid

Public transit serving Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton Counties with fixed routes and commuter service. Palmetto Breeze operates from the Benton Field Road office in Bluffton Monday through Saturday. Call customer service or visit online for route schedules, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare and commuter programs exist for seniors and eligible workforce riders.

843-757-5782 · 25 Benton Field Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 · Mon-Sat 6am-7pm · Visit Website

9. Best Friend Express – Rock Hill — Paid

Public transit serving Rock Hill and the York County area with fixed routes and demand-response service. Best Friend Express operates from the Johnston Street office during weekday hours. Call customer service or visit the city website for route schedules, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors and eligible low-income riders commuting to work, school, or appointments.

803-329-5585 · 155 Johnston St, Rock Hill, SC 29730 · Mon-Fri 6am-7pm · Visit Website

10. Greenville Health System – Medical Transportation — Free

Non-emergency medical transportation for Prisma Health patients in the Greenville area, including fathers traveling to appointments. The service is scheduled by appointment and supports patients unable to drive themselves. Call the hospital's transportation line during weekday hours to request a ride. Bring a photo ID, patient information, and the appointment details so schedulers can confirm pickup times and destinations.

864-455-7000 · 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC 29605 · Mon-Fri by appointment · Visit Website

11. Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council – Transit — Free

Regional transit coordination and rural transportation for the Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester tri-county area. BCDCOG plans and funds transit services and operates programs from the Casper Padgett Way office in North Charleston during weekday hours. Call or visit online for regional service information and rider programs. Fathers commuting from rural areas can request information on available van and commuter services.

843-529-0400 · 5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC 29406 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

12. Orangeburg County Transit — Paid

Public transportation serving the Orangeburg County area with fixed routes and demand-response service. The agency operates from the Amelia Street office during weekday hours. Call customer service or visit online for route schedules, fares, and accessibility information. Bring fare payment each ride; reduced-fare programs exist for seniors and eligible low-income riders commuting to work, school, or medical appointments in Orangeburg County.

803-533-6114 · 1437 Amelia St, Orangeburg, SC 29115 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm · Visit Website

13. Catawba Regional Council of Governments – Transit — Paid

Rural transportation services for Lancaster, Chester, and Union Counties coordinated through the Catawba Regional Council of Governments. Staff connect riders with van and demand-response options from the Hampton Street office in Rock Hill during weekday hours. Call customer service for route schedules, fares, and accessibility information. Fathers in rural areas can ask staff about commuter and medical-trip options serving member counties.

803-327-9041 · 215 Hampton St, Rock Hill, SC 29730 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm

Transportation — Common Questions

Can I get help affording a car?: Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.
What is Medicaid NEMT?: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).
Are there reduced-fare transit options?: Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.
What if I live in a rural area with no bus?: Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.