The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority, headquartered in Florence, South Carolina, operates as a premier provider of urban transit services within the Pee Dee region. Established in June 1974, it holds the distinction of being the first Regional Transportation Authority formed in the state. The organization began public operations in August 1976, initially serving a small group of participants in federal job training programs across six counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro. Over the decades, the agency expanded its mission to support regional economic development by transporting residents to job opportunities, including a long-standing tradition of moving inland county residents to the Grand Strand area.
Following significant operational adjustments in 2013, the authority streamlined its services to focus on core transit needs. Today, PDRTA delivers fixed route and deviated fixed route services in Darlington, Florence, Lake City, and Marion, South Carolina. The organization maintains a self-managed structure, which allows for direct oversight of its business operations with a focus on integrity and efficiency. While the service footprint has evolved from its initial six-county scope, the authority continues to provide essential transportation solutions, including paratransit options, to the communities it serves.