Ben Franklin Transit will present several proposals to help streamline its services in Prosser and Benton City at a workshop Wednesday in Prosser.
Some of the proposals include expanding Route 170, from the Tri-Cities to Prosser via Benton City, with Dial-A-Ride for the disabled, a demand response service with set stops and times and charging premium fares of up to $3 from those living beyond city limits.
The options, which would be fine-tuned with public input over next few months, are a response to better manage the area's growing demand for transit services and to deal with transit's ongoing budget crisis, said Kathy McMullen, transit's manager of service development.
The area's demand response service, which provides door-to-door service to transit users, is difficult to sustain at current levels, she said.
The number of trips in Prosser and Benton City has increased to about 125,000 a year from 34,000 trips a year in 1997, and the number of transit passengers in Prosser has gone up from 1,400 in January 1998 to 13,000 in January this year.
Many transit users in the area said they don't mind paying extra for transit services, McMullen said. They like the idea of having a bus service in Prosser, she said. "We'll talk to people to see what they want."
But even after the introduction of premium fares in the Tri-Cities, the transit agency barely covers about 14 percents of costs, McMullen said.
BFT is still looking at costs, the number of potential riders and trips for a possible fixed-route service in Prosser, she said. It will retain Dial-A-Ride service, which will only be available to those who qualify.
The agency also is considering increasing the frequency of service during peak hours, from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 5:30 p.m. "(We're trying) to find the most cost effective way to provide fixed route service in Prosser and in Benton City." A lot of people liked the idea of being able to go to downtown, or to school or visit the neighborhoods, McMullen said.
BFT so far has got back 40 to 50 surveys, which have helped officials draft proposals that will be discussed with community members.
The presentations are at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Keene-Riverview Elementary School, 832 Park Ave., Prosser.
You can take a survey at www.bft.org and also send your comments to transit's customer comment line at 509-734-5201.
For more information, contact Kathy Mc-Mullen at 509-734-5107 or kmcmullen@bft.org.
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