Casper public transportation users had a chance to review proposed changes to the bus service in two meetings on Wednesday. CATC and the Bus Director Marge Cole said they got helpful suggestions from meeting attendees.

Ideas must be collected:

"We are absolutely interested in all the comments. The only thing that we have to do is the ideas that we get, is put them in a form that we can look at, try it, because we're not there yet, see if they will work. That's the question. Some of them are long-term, like one lady this morning, we need more bus shelters, absolutely, we do. That is a long-term rather than a short-term goal."

CATC Board member Carol Crump attended the evening meeting along 21-year Board member Lou Grunewald, who said that reality will trickle down and sometimes a plan needs to be adjusted.

Difference between theory and practice:

"Originally the route in Mills was set up, and then after it was run for six months, we looked at the numbers and the suggestions from the people, if you put the stop over here instead of over here, we could use it better. And we made those changes and the ridership in Mills almost doubled."

Ms. Cole said she was a little disappointed in attendance for the second meeting because the information they get from passengers is vital and the steps in the process are picking up the pace.

Written comments to Casper Area MPO:

"July 5th is the beginning date for all the changes to take place, so that's what we'll need to do, is we'll go back and we'll look at all the comments, all of the suggestions, see what will work, see what may not work. When we are done with that process, then we publish the final recommendations."

The deadline for the comment period is June 30th. Proposed changes include extending the fixed route east, adding Saturday bus service, dropping Sunday CATC service and modifying two routes. For more information you can log onto http://www.casperareatransportation.com/Home.aspx or call 237-4287.

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