R2004-91 APPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE REDUCTIONS

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DECATUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM - PROPOSED SERVICE REDUCTIONS - DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE REDUCTIONS: The Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS)proposes the following two service reductions: • Service Reduction#l: elimination of late evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Monday through Thursday all Transit System routes operate unti17:15 pm,while on Friday and Saturday all routes operate unti19:15 pm. There is no service on Sunday. This proposed service reduction would make all routes operate unti17:15 pm, Monday through Saturday. • Service Reduction#2: increasing the headway on the#41 East Grand - Richland Community Colle�e route from 30 minutes to one hour. Because of the length of this route, two buses are required to provide 30 minute service. This proposed service reduction would eliminate one of those buses, resulting in service once each hour, using � only one bus. ' The rationale for making these service reductions is the need to cut costs in order to continue to operate the system. Funding for the system has not kept pace with the rising costs of fuel, insurance, wages, etc. DPTS has no choice but to cut costs and that means service reductions. Service Reduction#1 would affect both the fixed route bus system and the complementary paratransit service for people with disabilities. Service Reduction#2 would affect only the fuced route bus system. Service Reduction#1 would affect DPTS' entire service area. Service Reduction#2 would affect only the area within 3/4 mile of that bus route. This route can be broken into 3 segments: 1) from the downtown transfer point north to Grand Ave., where the service reduction is minimal,because the route follows the same roads as another route with 30 minute headways; 2) easterly on Grand Ave. and other streets to Brush College Rd., where the service area includes numerous older residential neighborhoods; and 3) Brush College Rd. north to Richland Community College, where the service area is 95% industrial, ending with the community college. While this bus route is entirely inside the City limits, its service area extends beyond the City in the area north and east of the community college. TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES FOR AFFECTED RIDERS: There are no transit alternatives available for riders who might be impacted by the proposed Service Reduction#1. Various alternatives and impacts would be found by riders on the#41 East Grand - Richland Communitv Colle�e route (proposed Service Reduction#2). Those living in the inner city area, from downtown north to Grand Ave.,would have minimal disruption since the roads - 1 -