Fuel costs compel look at outer bus routes

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on September 05, 2008

AMHERST - Rising diesel-fuel costs are causing the two bus routes funded by the town to run a combined deficit of close to $25,000.

Even though Amherst likely will have to foot the bill for these routes' additional cost, Town Manager Larry Shaffer said he is confident the shortfall will be resolved without significantly altering the routes or charging riders.

Shaffer acknowledged that ridership on the routes is small, but said it has been growing about 10 percent annually.

"As long as we continue to see those increases, I'll continue to support this public transportation subsidy," Shaffer said.

The so-called outreach routes supplement existing PVTA routes connecting area colleges.

The town last November budgeted $112,000 for these routes, based on an estimate provided by University of Massachusetts transit. The projected cost is now at $136,528.

Amherst is charged by UMass transit on a per-mile basis for the routes, Shaffer said. Route 32 takes buses from the northernmost part of town in Cushman to the southernmost point at Atkins Farms Country Market, while the Gatehouse Road route brings a bus to the eastern edge of Amherst.

Shaffer said he has scheduled a meeting with the Joint Public Transportation Committee/ Parking Task Force for Sept. 12 to discuss how to settle the gap.

The most likely scenario, and the one that would not impact the routes, would be increasing the appropriation by transferring money from the public transportation fund balance.

That option would require Town Meeting this fall to approve the additional expenditure, and might also cause the committees to explore increasing parking rates and fines. That money is placed into this balance.

Shaffer said he is less inclined to recommend charging bus users for the routes or to find ways to reduce the number of "side jogs" made by the buses. Any alterations to the routes could require a formal public hearing.

A final option could be to ask UMass transit not to assess the higher fee.

Whatever happens, Shaffer said he will continue to support public transportation, as it provides long-term economic and environmental benefits, and helps the town avoid infrastructure costs such as building new parking lots.

"Public transportation is an effort we need to stay with," Shaffer said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.