GAINESVILLE - Residents who use the Gainesville Connection told Hall Area Transit officials they really want to see extended hours and weekend service for the city's public transit system. However, that likely won't come to pass anytime soon.<br />
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Several bus riders, along with city government leaders and area transportation planners, showed up at two public input meetings Monday, one at 9 a.m. at the Gainesville Connection Administration Building and the second at noon at the Brenau University Downtown Center. <i>(A third meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Community Service Center.)</i><br />
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Wilma Swann, 72, of Gainesville said she just started using Hall Area Transit a couple of months ago when she had a wreck and totaled her car. She needed a way to get to doctors' appointments and that's when she found out about the city's public transit system.<br />
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"Mostly, it's been Dial-A-Ride, but now that I have found out how convenient the Gainesville Connection is - going to where my doctors' appointments are specifically - then I'll be using it more," said Swann.<br />
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She went to the meeting at the Brenau Downtown Center to find out more about changes planned for the system beginning on April 1, 2015.<br />
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Swann said it would be nice to have weekend hours, especially for those who needed to do shopping or run errands.<br />
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"Saturdays, especially around the first of the month when we have a little extra money, it would be a good thing to be able to go to the store, do a little shopping," said Swann.<br />
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Phillippa Lewis Moss, Director for the Gainesville Hall County Community Service Center said she heard the same suggestion at the 9 a.m. meeting, but while it's a good idea, right now, money is an issue.<br />
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"Extended hours requires quite a bit of investment and it's going to require the input of our city council and a budgetary decision is going to have to be made," said Lewis Moss.<br />
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"As a staff person, I think I'll definitely be putting that recommendation out there, but I think it will at least take one to two budget sessions to get that approved."<br />
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Currently, it costs about $700,000 a year to operate Hall Area Transit, according to Lewis Moss. About 50-percent of the operating budget comes from the Federal Transit Administration and the other 50-percent comes from the City of Gainesville and rider fares.<br />
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Other suggestions at the noon meeting included adding stops to some routes and creating some type of transfer agreement between the Gainesville Connection and Gwinnett Area Transit. Lewis Moss said the additional stops might be workable by spring, but the connection to Gwinnett would be more difficult to create right now.<br />
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As far as routes are concerned, the six routes currently operating around the city and in Oakwood will stay in place, although the routes will be made more "linear," according to HAT Operations Manager Richard Ticehurst. <br />
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"Passengers will be able to get on and get off closer to their stop and they won't have as far to walk and they won't have to ride around in - I call them big circles - they won't have to use [that part of the route] any more," said Ticehurst.<br />
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Riders will also see a change in fee structure starting April 1, 2015. For example, children and adults ages 7 to 59 will now pay $1.00 for a one-way fare. Seniors age 60 and older will pay a 50-cent fare, while children 6 and younger will ride free. There are daily and monthly passes available, as well. <br />
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Ticehurst is also taking written comment on the proposed changes via email at
[email protected] or via regular mail at Gainesville Connection, 687 Main Street, Gainesville, GA, 30501.<br />
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