TAPS opened the final route of the Go Red River Project today, with the Red River route.

The new route completes a series of route openings that started back in August with the Storm and Viking routes.

The Red River route takes passengers from the TAPS hub in Sherman to the Choctaw Casino resort, with a stop at 2300 W. Morton St. in Denison.

"It's been a very good day for us," said TAPS CEO Brad Underwood. "It's a very big day. We've essentially turned into a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week organization today."

Underwood said with the Southern Oklahoma Rural Transportation System on board to help make the project possible, today's route opening is a historic event for the public transit agency.

"It's never happened before where you have two rural public transportation agencies partner together to bring a multi-state, multi-regional transportation solution to a region," he said.

He said it's also a first for riders he's talked to - but now it's time to get the word out and fill these buses.

"We've gotten people who've never ridden public transportation before, riding for the first time, which is huge," he said.

Doug Ford, Red River Route driver, said this new option helps people who live far from their employers.

"I think the most important thing is - number one - right now they're saving money on fuel - on gas," he said. "Because the prices keep going up and up."

Underwood said the the planning has been years in the making.

"There's a sigh of relief. There's been so much work put into this that has gone on behind the scenes," he said. "So obviously today is a successful day, it's a happy day for us here. And we're just excited to give this over the community."

A one-way trip will cost $1. TAPS also offers a monthly pass for $20 a person.