'THE Bus' transit system may see changes

Arthur Kelland, 87, of Spring Hill, said he does not use THE Bus but may be doing so in the future.

That's why he doesn't want to see any of the fixed routes curtailed to save money and he doesn't want the mass transit system to shave off any hours.

"I do believe in giving to those less fortunate and have no objection to paying the small part of my taxes that goes to the operation of THE Bus," Kelland said.

Kelland was one of about a dozen residents who have taken advantage of the county's 30-day public comment period expressing their views — positive and negative — on the system.

Lucille Marano said a realignment of bus routes and times would allow her to use it more. She also included a request for a new bus stop on U.S. 19, opposite Weeki Wachee and Forest Oaks.

David Philipsen wrote that he is disabled and unable to drive so the bus is the only way he has to get around.

"I am for any changes for THE Bus, because right now, the way it works, is not good" Philipsen wrote.

County Commissioner Jim Adkins said he would consider all public comments but is not sure how many commissioners can follow up.

Hernando County's mass transit system cannot be compared to urban areas such as New York or Pinellas County, he said, where the population is greater and areas are not so spread out between routes.

Adkins said he is discouraged when he drives down the road and sees hardly anyone in the buses.

"I saw (a bus) the other day with nobody in it except the driver," he said. "One would think with a down economy that would be one of the things people would jump on."

Changes to THE Bus may be forthcoming.

One proposal is to increase the frequency of bus travel along the routes from 120 minutes to 75-minute headways.

Also, the routes would be extended to access the Pasco-Hernando Community College Spring Hill campus, and provide for uninterrupted service from Brooksville to Spring Hill.

Transportation Planning Coordinator Dennis Dix said the current operating expenses for THE Bus are $465,000. Hernando County's match, after deducting state and federal monies, is $116,265.

If county commissioners approved reducing the headway and adding one additional bus (for a total of four) the county's matching share would increase $22,607.

Meanwhile, the public has a little less than three weeks left to comment on proposed changes to THE Bus fixed-route transit system.