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Bus System Serves 1 Million

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 04:45 pm

NEW PORT RICHEY - A few days before Christmas, Pasco County's public bus system served its millionth customer in a year - a first for the growing system.

Officials with Pasco County Public Transportation trumpeted the record-setting passenger count, which happened Dec. 20.

Because the bus system doesn't use electronic fare boxes, it's impossible to know who the record-setting passenger was or where that person boarded the bus, said Thelma Williams, the system's transportation administrative manager.

The transit system operates bus routes in densely populated west Pasco and along the U.S. 301 corridor between Dade City and Zephyrhills. Much of the system's traffic is focused on U.S. 19 and includes a Tarpon Springs-based link with the Pinellas County bus system to help workers commute.

Ridership has increased steadily since the system began in the late 1990s, growing from fewer than 60,000 passengers in 1999 to this year's 1 million. The system experienced a spike of about 35 percent between 2004 and 2005, when ridership topped 740,000.

This year's million-rider mark was up about 20 percent over ridership in the same period the year before, transit officials said.
System officials say the growth reflects several factors, including the rising cost of gasoline, now hovering around $3 a gallon.

"That's one of the factors, but there are many other factors," said Adey Reyes, the county's community services director. She oversees the bus system along with other departments serving the elderly and the poor.

In recent years, transit officials have expanded the system's reach and added hours - including Saturday service - that have helped draw in new passengers, Reyes said.

Surveys of the system's riders show that most passengers use the buses to get to work, Williams said.

But increased reliability, including a half-hour lead time on U.S. 19 routes, has made the system more accessible for people who take the bus to stores or the doctor, said Linda McBride, the transit system's marketing coordinator.

Despite the record passenger count, the bus system still faces challenges.
Transit officials will hold a public hearing Jan. 22 to discuss a 50-cent fare increase - doubling the current fare to $1 - that will take place March 1.

Previous plans for a cross-county route following State Road 54 are on hold, as are plans for a local route in Land O' Lakes. A planned Moon Lake area route was scrapped when county commissioners cut it from their budget.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski @tampatrib.com.

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