Community Connections

Area Agencies and Community Links

Western Piedmont Council of Governments

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments organized in 1969 as a nonprofit group to provide long-range planning and technical assistance. Our organization is one of 17 regional councils in North Carolina formed under NC General Statutes 160A 470-478. Local governments eligible for WPCOG membership include Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties located in Western NC and the 24 cities and towns within those counties. Our mission statement is to "serve all local government members with professional, cost effective assistance on a variety of local, regional, state and federal issues and programs."

Local Transportation Service Operators

Hickory Hop

Charlotte Airport Service - Call our reservation line during the week at 828/327-2340 or after hours and on weekends at 828/312-0488. You can also make a reservation online by sending an e-mail to reservations@hickoryhop.com.

Mountaineer Express North-South

• Effective October 1st, 2010, Coach America will be providing daily round-trip service between Boone & Charlotte. The round-trip route, which will serve Boone, Lenoir, Hickory, Lincolnton, Gastonia, & Charlotte, will operate seven days a week.

• Tickets can be purchase online at Greyhound.com, near the Appalachian State University bus stop (Phil’s Citgo, 168 Hardin St), at the Hickory bus stop (3361 Highway 70 SE, at the Gastonia bus stop or at the Charlotte bus stop. Prepaid tickets will receive priority seating. Tickets can also be purchased directly from the driver, exact change is required.

• Mountaineer Express North / South Brochure - Click on the link to the left for the schedule, times, and fare

Greyhound Bus Stop - Hickory, NC

The Greyhound Bus Stop in Hickory, NC is located at the Citgo Fuel Center, 3361 Highway 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28601 (at the corner of Hwy 70 SE and Fairgrove Church Rd off of I-40 Exit 128)

• Tickets can be purchase online at Greyhound.com and at the Hickory bus stop (3361 Highway 70 SE, Prepaid tickets will receive priority seating.

The Greyhound stops at the Citgo Fuel Center seven days a week. The West bound bus stops at the Citgo Fuel Center at 2:40 p.m. The East bound bus stops at the Citgo Fuel Center at 9:50 a.m.