CATC Bus Subsidies Slashed

Subsidies for bus and CATC fares in Casper are cut in half for 2012-2013 fiscal year. Congress reduced federal Community Block Grant Funds by 50 percent so Casper Area Transportation Coalition Executive director, Marge Cole, says qualified recipients can expect fewer tokens or punch passes.

"In the past we've been able to provide an annual pass to ride the fixed route bus, or to provide 50 tickets to a CATC passenger to ride the door to door service. Those kinds of benefits aren't happening anymore."

Cole says they start taking applications for the subsidized Fare Program on September 5th. She says this year distribution will happen quarterly, so once your approved application goes on file, you'll need to go back every three months to pick up allotted tokens or punch cards based on available funds. She warns those who use the program regularly that there may not be sufficient dollars to get through the fiscal year that ends next July.