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It’s been 5 years since the vehicles of Lakeway Transit fired up for the first time and the organization had a birthday party on Thursday at its Morristown headquarters on W. Andrew Johnson Highway.

Lakeway Transit began operating in 2021 and runs three fixed routs that connects riders to work, medical appointments, grocery stores and other daily needs. More riders have utilized the service every year and there is still growth ahead. Officials said the time passed quickly.

“Coming down here this morning, I was thinking, man, has it been five years since we started this?” Director of ETHRA Public Transportation Mike Patterson said. “Doesn’t seem possible.”

Lakeway Transit Manager Shannon Collins said the public transit system is a good way to make sure everyone has a way to move around.

“We have regular customers who ride with us every day,” Collins said. “Many ride to work or to classes at Walters State or just to get out and about. We have several people who are legally blind or have other disabilities that prevent them from driving. So the bus system is really their way of having a little freedom. They can just get on the bus and they can go to the mall. They can go to the coffee shop. They can go to the stores and grocery shopping. Or they can go visit their friends. And it’s very helpful.”

Patterson agreed and said they see meaningful impacts in the community.

“Once we implemented the fixed route, I had a gentleman call me and said, ‘I want to thank you for the bus service, it helped me stay in my home,’” he recalled.

“’I don’t have to move in with my son.’

“And I thought, well, that’s pretty cool. We helped somebody like that.”