The Jackson County Transit Advisory Board serves as the advisory body to Jackson County Transit as lead agency in the operation of public transportation in the county.  Advises on all public transportation matters including proposed routes, service changes, ridership policies, fare structures, funding and budgets. 

 

The Transportation Advisory Board meets quarterly on the 3rd Wednesday at 1:30 PM at Jackson County Transit, 1148 Haywood Rd, Sylva, NC 28779.

​

BOARD MEMBERS:

​

Chairperson: Sarajane Melton, Southwestern Commission

Director: Rene Moore, Jackson County Transit

Assistant Director: Zack Beck, Jackson County Transit

• James Davis, Department on Aging

• Darlene Fox, Jackson County Finance Director

• Jenny Hooper, Jackson County Board of Commissioners

• Kevin King, Jackson County Manager

• Cristian Mireles, Community Paramedic 

• Chuck Oaks, Disability Partners 

• Sheila Setzer, Veterans Services, Department on Aging

• Si Simmons, Mountain Projects 

• Kevin Tafoya, ECBI Transit 

• German Vivas, Public Board Member

• Chris Weatherford, Dept. of Social Services 

​

​

​

​

Jackson County Transportation Board Minutes 

February 18th, 2026 1:30 p.m.

​

​

Those Present:

​

Zack Beck, Jessica Bell, Jenny Hooper, Amber Lambert, Sarajane Melton, Cristian Mireles,

Rene Moore, Chuck Oaks, Si Simmons(Via Zoom), Kevin Tafoya, German Vivas.

​

➤ A quorum was present at the meeting.

➤ Sarajane Melton welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

➤ A motion to adopt the minutes of the November 19th, 2025 made by Sarajane Melton, seconded German Vivas.

➤ Sarajane Melton turned the meeting over to Transit Director Rene Moore.

​

​

​

Old Business: 

 

➤ Performance Review:  Rene Moore discussed the Agency Trip Count decrease related to 60 operating days for that quarter compared

     to 64 operating days in the previous quarter. Ridership for the trolley has increased this quarter from the previous quarter.

 

➤ The FY27 Grant was approved at the RGP level on February 5th, 2026.

​

➤ Officially received the letter of compliance for the CY25 Compliance Review.

​

​

​

New Business: 

​

➤ The 5310 Grant experienced a reduction in the total federal funding awarded. The original request was $165,000, structured

     as a 50/50 match ($82,000 Federal/Local). The approved funding amount is $153,000 structured as $76,000 Federal/Local.

 

➤ The County Budget Preliminary Meeting is scheduled for February 25th, 2026.

​

➤ Meetings with the Finance Department regarding the budget will take place between April 13th and April 24th .

​

➤ New brochures were produced, including 250 Trolley brochures and 425 Door to Door brochures, at an approximate cost

     of $0.58 per unit. Printing services were completed through the Western Carolina University Print Shop.

​

➤ The hiring of an additional part-time driver was discussed while another part-time driver is currently in the onboarding

     process. Once finalized, this will bring the department to full staffing capacity.

​

➤ The new marketing poster will be displayed on a billboard and will remain in place through March and into April.