UPDATE: From 6 p.m. Friday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- With recent commuting costs at all-time highs, a bus route between Charleston and Huntington comes as welcome news to many.

Some people, including Jeff Bush, already carpool to reduce costs of the nearly 55-mile commute between Huntington and Charleston.

"I've done it for several years, even before the gas prices started going up," Bush said.

Another way he saves is by working four ten-hour days. And the state wants those savings to go the extra mile.

Both the Kanawha and Tri-State transit authorities will split a bus route between Huntington and Charleston – a service expected to begin in about three to four months.

"The bottom line is it's taking so much out of your everyday life, and (with) the high cost of fuel, it's not even practical anymore," Gov. Joe Manchin said of commuting by car.

State Department of Transportation official Susan O'Connell said demand for a Charleston to Huntington bus route is likely to vary.

"Bus transit seems to go in one or two directions," she said. "You start slow, and there will be very few people and build, or a lot of people initially and (then) it will drop off."

The bus will leave Pullman Square in Huntington at 6:45 a.m. and get to Charleston at 8:15 a.m. It will leave Charleston at 5:15 p.m. and get back to Huntington around 6:45 p.m.

"I think this is a beginning," said Denny Dawson, director of the Kanawha Transit Authority. "We need to look at it and tweak it and see how people respond."

Dawson said it is "very symbolic of the future of this region" because Charleston, Huntington and the area in between the state’s two largest cities are "in essence one city."

In Huntington, the TTA already has expanded its service to Ironton, Ohio. A route to Ashland, Ky., is next.

"This is the capstone of what we are trying to achieve," said Vickie Shaffer, director of the TTA, explaining that people need transportation alternatives to help them save money.

A round-trip ride would cost $8 daily, which amounts to about $40 weekly for a working commuter. With gas about $3.75 a gallon now, that's just a few dollars more than putting 10 gallons in your tank.

For Bush, however, time is money.

"It's something I wouldn't take advantage of now -- maybe later," he said.

The project will cost about $200,000 -- $40,000 will come from state money and the remaining $160,000 from a federal grant.

Governor Joe Manchin announced Friday the Tri-State Transit Authority and Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority will offer commuter service between Kanawha and Cabell counties running Monday through Friday.

The routes will go to and from both Huntington and Charleston. The buses will also make a stop in Putnam County.

The project will cost $200,000. Most of the money will come from a federal grant, but the state will pay $40,000.

State leaders say a TTA bus will leave Pullman Square in Huntington at 6:45am each morning and arrive at the State Capitol in Charleston at 8:15am. Then, the bus will make a return trip back to Huntington.

In the evenings, a KRT bus will leave the State Capitol at 5:15pm and arrive in Huntington at 6:45pm. This bus will also make a stop in Putnam County before returning to Charleston.

A round trip ticket will cost $8.00 from Huntington or Charleston and $6:00 from Putnam County. A one way ticket will cost $4.00 from Huntington or Charleston, $3.00 from Putnam County.

Leaders say this is just one way to help people dealing with high gas prices.

Friday, the Governor Joe Manchin is holding a news conference to announce it. The release only says, "Gov. Joe Manchin joins transportation officials during a press conference to make an announcement regarding bus service between Charleston and Huntington."

Sources tell WSAZ.com it will be a commuter service, and it will help people dealing with high gas prices.

The news conference is set for 11:00 a.m. We will provide you information as soon as we get it.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.