Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 23, 1994 TAG: 9404250160
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ERIKA BOLSTAD and CAMERON HUDDLESTON STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We don't have a choice,'' Hughes said. ``We can't rely on car pools and we can't afford cars.''
However, a Greater Roanoke Transit Co. survey showed riders were willing to pay higher fares for extended service.
``A year has not gone by without the public saying we need to be operating later at night,'' Steve Mancuso, general manager of Greater Roanoke Transit. Although rates have gone up periodically, service has remained the same for 10 years, Mancuso said. Under this proposal, it would be extended two hours, until 8:45 p.m.
In response to the survey, Valley Metro officials proposed raising basic fares from $1 to $1.25 to pay for extended service. Operating the buses two more hours a day costs $300,000 a year, Mancuso said. About 2,400 to 3,000 people ride the bus daily.
A random sampling of 96 bus riders showed most were willing to pay for extended service, Mancuso said. Extended service included increased routes and hours, Sunday service and longer transfer periods, with most respondents favoring later hours. Some people were willing to pay $1.50, but most of those surveyed favored a $1.25 fare and two-hour service extension.
Greater Roanoke Transit will hold a public hearing May18 at its office at 1108 Campbell Ave. S.E.
Doug Falls, a nursing assistant who rides the bus to and from work every day, said he would be willing to pay the extra fare for the extended service.
``If we don't get away [from work] on time, we have to catch a cab or something,'' Falls said. ``I was glad to hear they would be considering later hours.''
P.L. Grogran, a Valley Metro driver for 20 years, said he and other veteran drivers won't mind working later hours, but new drivers might. He said he had heard about the proposed change from the newspaper.
Hughes and some of her classmates think that 25 cents is too much to pay for only two additional hours.
She said 25 cents may not seem like a lot, but it adds up, especially for students.
Instead, Virginia Western students want the buses to run until midnight without a rate increase.
``We are the ones who want it to stay open later to take night classes,'' Hughes said. She and several of her classmates will attend the public hearing to let Valley Metro officials know they do not support the rate increase.
If the extended hours and rates take effect, and enough riders take advantage of the extended service, Valley Metro eventually may extend bus service to 11 p.m., Mancuso said.
Some bus riders would like Valley Metro to operate on Sundays rather than later hours.
``Why don't they run it on Sundays so we can go to church?'' Effie Herbert said. Herbert, who lives in Melrose Towers, rides the bus daily. But she said that she and other senior citizens are afraid to ride the bus at night and would not take advantage of extended hours.
Pauline Gibson, who rides the bus several times a week, agreed.
``I go downtown no later than 5 p.m.,'' Gibson said. ``I probably won't go downtown as much if the fare goes up. Only when I need to.''
by CNB