City to end Sunday bus service

By J.D. Sumner (2017)
j.d.sumner@albanyherald.com

As of Monday, June 18, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

A patron hops aboard a bus in downtown Albany Monday. The Albany Transit System is eliminating Sunday routes starting July 1.

ALBANY, Ga. — When the new fiscal year starts, Albany transit buses will stay idle on Sundays as city officials work to find ways to cut their budget.

As first reported on The Herald’s twitter account, city officials say that effective July 1, the Albany Transit System will no longer provide transportation services on Sundays.

“It just didn’t make sense to offer Sunday service when it was costing us $1,800 each week and we were making about $145,” Albany Transit System Director David Hamilton said.

The Transit System website and bus schedules will be updated to reflect the change in service.

A closer look at the Sunday routes shows that the city was operating two fixed-route buses and servicing four different bus routes. The city was also having to foot the bill for one paratransit bus that was used on an as-needed basis.

According to city officials, ATS averages 364 total monthly Sunday passengers compared to average monthly passenger counts of 85,000, or less than 0.5 percent.

Assistant City Manager Wes Smith said Monday that Sunday bus routes cost the city roughly $70,000 per year.

Hamilton said he understands the hardship that cutting out a day on the bus schedule will have on patrons, but he said that the city has to be fiscally responsible too.

“When looking at the numbers, this is the right move,” Hamilton said. “It’s a tough decision, but it’s the right decision.”

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