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County's buses draw a crowd

As the cost of car ownership increases, so too does the number of people taking the bus.

By GARRETT THEROLF
Published November 8, 2005

Faced with a choice between a trip that costs a flat 50 cents or one powered by pricey gasoline, Pasco travelers are picking the cheaper one more often.

The number of trips made on the county's bus system is up about 35 percent for the 12-month period that ended Oct. 1 when compared with totals for the previous fiscal year.

"It's just a lot cheaper to ride the bus than to pay these gas prices on top of maintenance, insurance and everything else for a car," 29-year-old Jason Kowalcyzyk said Monday afternoon before getting on a bus in New Port Richey on the way to his retail job.

AAA reported Monday in its Daily Fuel Gauge Report that the average price-per-gallon for gasoline in Florida was $2.56.

The same day, the county transportation department said 740,918 trips were made on the system's 14 routes in fiscal year 2004-2005. The previous year, 550,001 were made.

"It used to be that the bus driver was very lonely. Our drivers were like the Maytag repairman: Nobody was ever using their services," County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand said.

"I think people are starting to see that we're trying to be more bus friendly. You can bring your bike. We're trying to expand hours."

Bus fares have never fully supported the system, but the county is still willing to devote more public money to it.

Last month, the annual budget for public transportation increased from $8.9-million to $9.9-million.

Commissioner Steve Simon, who projects even greater increases in ridership, said he had no hesitation to make the investment.

"How many people would be forced out of the job if they did not have access to the bus? What's going to happen to the person who needs to get to medical care? You're going to have to send the ambulance at some multiple of the cost," Simon said. "Those unseen benefits make it very profitable."

Next on the list of improvements is the introduction of operating hours on Saturdays, although plans on paper don't call for that until 2010.

Stronger routes between east and west Pasco are a priority, commissioners said. Only four of 14 bus routes serve the east side.

"Both of those improvements would be great because, as it is today, you have to find a job close by in case you get a weekend shift and have to walk," Kowalcyzyk said.

[Last modified November 8, 2005, 02:15:36]