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Hernando Today

County Weighs Bus Options

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: June 25, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - There was plenty of talk about THE Bus Tuesday.

But still no decision on its future.

County commissioners carved out time in their crowded agenda to discuss a ridership survey, done by Tampa-based Tindale-Oliver and Associates for $19,974. All but $1,600 of the money came from federal transit planning funds.

Commissioners sat through a slide presentation from the consultant and took public comment. But that was it.

The next step should come Friday when County Administrator David Hamilton is expected to submit a recommendation to the board about the final fate of THE Bus. Then it will be up to commissioners to mull it over some more as they inch their way closer to putting together a balanced budget by July 15.

Only about three people Tuesday spoke in favor of the mass transit system, urging the board not to do away with what they call their lifeline to the outside.

Without THE Bus, they couldn't get to doctors' offices, stores and other places, they said.

But while commissioners sympathized, they said they also have to live within the confines of a tight budget. They have hinted at cutting the hours of THE Bus or even dropping the fixed-route system completely.

Bill Ball, an associate with Tindale-Oliver and Associates, opened the discussion Tuesday with an overview of the survey.

Of the 790 surveys handed out to riders of THE Bus, 447 were completed, according to the survey. Survey-takers traveled on all four bus routes April 24 to obtain their information.

The survey showed 21 percent of riders use Hernando County's mass transit system to commute to work. That's up from 12 percent in 2003.

Another 27 percent of riders used THE Bus for shopping trips, a modest increase from 23 percent in 2003.

About 80 percent of THE Bus users are "captive riders," those who do not have a vehicle or come from households with incomes near federal poverty thresholds.

Those numbers surprised County Transportation Coordinator Dennis Dix, who said that THE Bus was designed more for people who want to go shopping or to doctors' offices, than commute to work.

Reaction to the survey results, first published June 13 in Hernando Today, has been mixed.

In an earlier interview, County Commissioner David Russell said the low ridership numbers show the need to do away with the service, especially during this time of fiscal belt-tightening.

Russell said it might make more sense to continue operating only the para-transit service for the transportation disadvantaged.

Since debuting in 2002, THE Bus has never made a profit.

County Commissioner Rose Rocco believes more money can be made from the bus if businesses would advertise on the outside of the vehicles.

Rocco also believes the bus routes could be tweaked to maximize efficiency. She envisions the mass transit system as playing a vital role in future regional transportation initiatives.

County Commissioner Diane Rowden, perhaps the staunchest supporter of THE Bus, said public transportation was never meant to be a moneymaker.

It's there to assist that part of the population who needs it to get to stores, doctor offices and other locations, she said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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