Sumner County Transit Rider Guide

Sumner County residents can use two primary public transit options: MCHRA Public Transit for scheduled, curb-to-curb rural rides and WeGo Route 87 for weekday express service between Gallatin, Hendersonville and downtown Nashville. MCHRA recommends booking local trips at least 24 hours ahead and out-of-county trips 72 hours ahead. Call MCHRA’s Sumner County office at 615-452-5868 or the operations center at 1-800-945-4125. WeGo’s regional bus fare is $4.25 per ride, and its Route 87 schedule should be checked before each trip.

Public transportation in Sumner County is handled primarily through two different services. MCHRA Public Transit provides scheduled, curb-to-curb rural transportation throughout Sumner County and surrounding Middle Tennessee counties. WeGo Public Transit’s Route 87 is a weekday regional express bus connecting Gallatin and Hendersonville with downtown Nashville..

The right option depends on your trip. Use MCHRA when you need a reservation-based ride to a local destination, medical appointment or other scheduled stop. Use WeGo Route 87 when you are traveling along the Gallatin–Hendersonville–Nashville corridor and can use the published weekday schedule.

> Last verified for this draft: August 15, 2026. Transit schedules, fares, alerts and holiday closures can change. Check the official provider before leaving.

Quick answer: Which Sumner County transit service should you use?

If you need to… — Start with… — What to know

Arrange a ride within Sumner County — MCHRA Public Transit — Reserve in advance; service is first-call, first-served and curb-to-curb.

Travel from Gallatin or Hendersonville to Nashville — WeGo Route 87 — Weekday regional express service; check the current schedule and alerts.

Arrange a trip outside Sumner County — MCHRA Public Transit — MCHRA requests at least 72 hours’ notice for out-of-county trips.

Request transportation connected to TennCare — Your TennCare health-plan transportation broker — MCHRA lists separate broker phone numbers on its official site.

Request disability-related access or a reasonable modification — MCHRA — Contact the agency’s ADA/Title VI contacts or ask when scheduling.

MCHRA lists Sumner County as one of the counties it serves and publishes a local Sumner County phone number, 615-452-5868. Its operations center can also be reached at 1-800-945-4125.

MCHRA Public Transit: How to schedule a ride

MCHRA Public Transit is a public, reservation-based service operated by the Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency. The agency describes the service as curb-to-curb transportation using regular and lift-equipped vehicles. It is available to the general public, not only to seniors or people with disabilities.

Who can ride?

MCHRA says public transit is available regardless of age or income. Riders must be able to maintain appropriate conduct and must not have a communicable disease that can be transmitted through close proximity to other passengers.

A companion or escort is required for riders younger than 16. An escort or personal care attendant may also be needed when a rider requires assistance. MCHRA does not provide personal care attendants, and a required personal care attendant or escort is not charged a fare.

Reservations, service area and operating hours

MCHRA asks riders to schedule:

• At least 24 hours ahead for local trips
• At least 72 hours ahead for out-of-county trips

Trips are scheduled on a first-call, first-served basis as availability permits. The agency says medical trips receive priority. If the requested trip cannot fit the schedule, MCHRA says staff will try to arrange another date or time.

The published MCHRA hours list transit service as operating Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The agency’s office hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MCHRA also publishes a holiday closure list and advises riders to call their local office about additional Tennessee state holidays. Verify the calendar when scheduling a time-sensitive trip.

To book a Sumner County trip, call 615-452-5868. You can also call the MCHRA operations center at 1-800-945-4125. For riders who are deaf or hard of hearing, MCHRA directs callers to Tennessee Relay Services at 1-800-848-0298 and advises them to provide the local county number.

MCHRA fares and payment

MCHRA’s published fare page lists a $10 one-way flat rate from Sumner County to Nashville. The page also lists fare categories for other counties and says fares must be paid with cash or bus passes; personal checks are not accepted. Because the fare page does not provide a complete Sumner County local-trip table, ask the dispatcher for the exact fare when you reserve a trip within Sumner County or to another destination.

MCHRA lists pass booklets for several fare levels, including $2, $3, $10 and $15 booklets. Confirm availability and the correct booklet for your trip before purchasing.

WeGo Route 87: Gallatin and Hendersonville to Nashville

WeGo classifies Route 87 as an express commuter bus serving the Gallatin–Hendersonville corridor and downtown Nashville. WeGo describes express service as transportation from outlying counties that allows passengers to leave their vehicles at park-and-ride locations and travel to downtown Nashville.

The official Route 87 page provides the current schedule, stop list, route alerts and downloadable schedule. WeGo’s current system information identifies Route 87 as a weekday service with multiple morning trips toward Nashville and afternoon trips returning to Sumner County. The route does not operate like a frequent local city bus, so riders should plan around the posted departure times rather than arriving without checking the schedule.

WeGo’s Route 87 schedule materials identify stops including Gallatin, Hendersonville and downtown Nashville. The route connects with the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, located at 400 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in downtown Nashville. As of July 5, 2026, Route 87 departures from WeGo Central use Bay 2 on the upper level, although riders should check current signs and alerts for changes..

WeGo Route 87 fares and payment

WeGo’s current fare page lists the regional bus fare as:

• $4.25 for one ride
• $73.50 for a 20-ride ticket
• $2 for a discounted regional-service ride for eligible riders with the required discount identification

WeGo accepts QuickTicket, contactless debit or credit cards, mobile wallets and exact cash on fixed-route service. American Express is not currently accepted. Youth, seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders may qualify for discounted fares, but WeGo says riders must obtain a Discount ID before the reduced fare is applied.

WeGo also publishes real-time arrival information and route alerts. Check those tools on the day of travel, especially when traveling into downtown Nashville, where construction and special events may affect bus bays or stops.

Step-by-step checklist for booking a Sumner County transit ride

For an MCHRA trip

1. Write down the full trip details. Have the pickup address, destination, appointment time, return time, passenger name and phone number ready.
2. Call at least 24 hours ahead for a local ride. Use 615-452-5868 for Sumner County or 1-800-945-4125 for MCHRA’s operations center.
3. Ask for the fare before confirming. The exact price may depend on the trip’s location and county boundaries.
4. Explain mobility needs when booking. Tell the dispatcher if you need a lift-equipped vehicle, have an escort or require a reasonable modification.
5. Record the assigned pickup time. MCHRA advises riders to be ready at least 30 minutes before pickup.
6. Carry the correct payment. MCHRA says fares must be paid in cash or bus passes and drivers do not accept personal checks.
7. Call promptly if you must cancel. MCHRA asks riders to cancel at least two hours before pickup.

For a WeGo Route 87 trip

1. Open WeGo’s Route 87 schedule page.
2. Search using the date and direction of travel.
3. Confirm the departure stop, arrival stop and current alerts.
4. Plan extra time to reach the stop or park-and-ride location.
5. Prepare exact cash or use QuickTicket, a contactless card or a mobile wallet.
6. Recheck the route before returning, since downtown bus bays and detours may change.

Rider rules, accessibility and assistance

MCHRA requires passengers to wear seat belts while the vehicle is moving. Riders should have correct change ready, must not smoke, eat or drink aboard except for limited medical circumstances, and are limited to four bags per trip. Service animals are allowed; MCHRA’s published rider rules say other animals are not permitted on vehicles.

Drivers may wait only five minutes for a rider. MCHRA also says drivers do not enter a rider’s home, administer medication, assist with restroom use or sign a customer out of a medical facility or school. These limitations are important when arranging transportation for a senior, child or person who needs hands-on assistance.

MCHRA provides reasonable-modification procedures for qualified people with disabilities. The agency lists Anna Perry as a contact for modification requests at 615-517-8940 and [email protected]. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats upon request.

WeGo says all of its buses are ADA accessible. Its separate WeGo Access paratransit program is for eligible riders who cannot use fixed-route transit, but that service operates within Davidson County. Sumner County riders should ask MCHRA about the appropriate county service rather than assuming WeGo Access covers a trip from Sumner County.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until the same day to request an MCHRA ride.
• Assuming MCHRA and WeGo use the same fare system.
• Treating Route 87 as an all-day, walk-up local bus.
• Forgetting to tell the dispatcher about a wheelchair, escort or other assistance need.
• Arriving at the pickup location only a few minutes before the scheduled time.
• Relying on an old printed schedule without checking current alerts.
• Assuming a Nashville-bound MCHRA trip provides local transportation within Davidson County. MCHRA says it does not provide transportation services within Davidson County, even though it may carry riders from surrounding counties to destinations there.

Official links and next steps

For a local or scheduled ride, start with MCHRA Public Transit and call the Sumner County number. For a weekday commute along the Gallatin–Hendersonville corridor, open WeGo’s Route 87 schedule and verify the fare, departure stop and alerts.

Transit information changes frequently. Before publication and before any time-sensitive trip, verify the provider’s current schedule, phone numbers, fares, holiday calendar, accessibility instructions and service alerts.

Next step: Save the MCHRA Sumner County number—615-452-5868—and bookmark the official WeGo Route 87 schedule so you can check both services when planning your next trip.