Proposed Transit Routes In West Chatham Get Chilly Reception In Pooler

South Florida researchers introducing a proposal to extend Chatham Area Transit service to the west side of the county got a chilly reception from area residents attending a workshop in Pooler this week. On Wednesday, most West Chatham citizens at the first of two community meetings hosted by the transit system and researchers from the Center for Urban Transit Research at the University of South Florida had three primary concerns: They said they worried that bringing a fixed route westward had the potential to increase their property taxes, exacerbate traffic and bring crime and blight to their communities. CAT CEO Chad Reese said the transit organization hired the Florida researchers to come up with a plan because demand for services has been increasing throughout Chatham County.