CORINTH – Such divergent interests as tourism and an activity center for people with mental illness were represented at a regional town hall meeting about transportation issues Thursday.

Relentless rain may have contributed to a low turnout for the Mississippi Department of Transportation-sponsored event, where state and local agency representatives provided information about available transportation services.

While most of the public transportation in Northeast Mississippi rural communities is for the elderly and disabled, services that help workers find employment and commute to work also are available, said MDOT spokesman Charles Husband.

A reason the department is holding regional town halls, Husband said, is to foster cooperation among the network of agencies that use public transportation for their clients.

The region currently is served through Northeast Mississippi Community Services, Timber Hills Mental health Services, Alcorn County Human Resource Agency, Lafayette County RSVP Program, Three Rivers Planning and Development District and several others.

“We have stimulus money that will provide improved access to jobs, education and health care,” Husband said.

Sherry Dalton of Our Resource House, a day activity center for people with mental illness, said she needs regular transportation for clients who wish to use the facility.

Husband said their job is to help agencies work together to get the needs fulfilled.

Program Coordinator Karen Beth Martin of the Corinth-Alcorn County Convention and Visitors Bureau asked if out-of-town visitors would be able to park at the tourism office and board transportation to various tourist sites they’d like to visit around Corinth and Alcorn County.

“Yes, park-and-ride is a service we can help with,” Husband said. “This is the kind of service where we can easily help out. We don’t want to create a new service if there is one already in place that can do the job.”

Northeast Mississippi Community Services provides service to the general public as well as special populations, said transportation director Travis Shea.

“Many of the needs are being met,” Shea said. “We’re taking people to doctor visits in Tupelo and Memphis, giving rides for shopping, taking people to job interviews and many other places. We’ve gotten a number of new vans and are getting more to increase our capacity.”

Contact Lena Mitchell at (662) 287-9822 or lena.mitchell@djournal.com.