ARLINGTON -- Diane Chew embraced bus service from Arlington to Fort Worth as soon as it debuted in September 2008 and she hasnt looked back.
I think Id be kind of lost without it said Chew who rides each day to her job at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
Ridership is holding steady despite recent cost-cutting moves by the Fort Worth Transportation Authority which operates the Arlington service.
The agency also known as the T operates the daily bus service known as Route 68 from a park-and-ride lot near Interstate 20 and Park Springs Boulevard in Arlington to downtown Fort Worth.
In the first cost-cutting move the T in September eliminated another Arlington bus -- this one had stopped at Interstate 30 and Cooper Street/Lamar Boulevard -- because of low ridership.
And coming on May 30 the T is scheduled to eliminate one of the four afternoon return trips to Arlington at I-20 and Park Springs. The 6:20 p.m. trip often has only one or two riders and sometimes none at all officials said.
The elimination of less-popular trips are necessary to make up for a $1.9 million deficit which is the result of declining sales tax revenue T President Dick Ruddell said. Many other cuts are being made throughout the Ts bus system.
But in Arlington the three remaining morning departures and three afternoon return trips are going strong with steady ridership said Curvie Hawkins T planning director. Route 68 will still depart Arlington at 6:20 6:50 and 7:20 a.m. and return at 4:55 5:25 and 5:55 p.m.
When Chew gets on the bus she said its common for about 12 to 14 others to be on there as well. She has become acquaintances with other riders including some staffers and students who ride with her to the health science center.
Overall ridership to Arlington was down to about 1939 riders in March -- all departing and arriving at the I-20/Park Springs lot. The same month a year earlier there were 2700 Arlington riders including 1882 riders at I-20 and Park Springs and 818 riders on the now-defunct Arlington bus to I-30 and Cooper/Lamar.
In August Arlington received a $71506 grant from the Sue Pope Fund to continue the bus service another year. Arlington splits the operating costs with the T.
The buses are coach-style with high backs storage bins and individual air-conditioning vents and reading lights.
The buses operate on compressed natural gas and seat up to 35 people.
gdickson@star-telegram.com
ARLINGTON -- Diane Chew embraced bus service from Arlington to Fort Worth as soon as it debuted in September 2008 and she hasnt looked back.
I think Id be kind of lost without it said Chew who rides each day to her job at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
Ridership is holding steady despite recent cost-cutting moves by the Fort Worth Transportation Authority which operates the Arlington service.
The agency also known as the T operates the daily bus service known as Route 68 from a park-and-ride lot near Interstate 20 and Park Springs Boulevard in Arlington to downtown Fort Worth.
In the first cost-cutting move the T in September eliminated another Arlington bus -- this one had stopped at Interstate 30 and Cooper Street/Lamar Boulevard -- because of low ridership.
And coming on May 30 the T is scheduled to eliminate one of the four afternoon return trips to Arlington at I-20 and Park Springs. The 6:20 p.m. trip often has only one or two riders and sometimes none at all officials said.
The elimination of less-popular trips are necessary to make up for a $1.9 million deficit which is the result of declining sales tax revenue T President Dick Ruddell said. Many other cuts are being made throughout the Ts bus system.
But in Arlington the three remaining morning departures and three afternoon return trips are going strong with steady ridership said Curvie Hawkins T planning director. Route 68 will still depart Arlington at 6:20 6:50 and 7:20 a.m. and return at 4:55 5:25 and 5:55 p.m.
When Chew gets on the bus she said its common for about 12 to 14 others to be on there as well. She has become acquaintances with other riders including some staffers and students who ride with her to the health science center.
Overall ridership to Arlington was down to about 1939 riders in March -- all departing and arriving at the I-20/Park Springs lot. The same month a year earlier there were 2700 Arlington riders including 1882 riders at I-20 and Park Springs and 818 riders on the now-defunct Arlington bus to I-30 and Cooper/Lamar.
In August Arlington received a $71506 grant from the Sue Pope Fund to continue the bus service another year. Arlington splits the operating costs with the T.
The buses are coach-style with high backs storage bins and individual air-conditioning vents and reading lights.
The buses operate on compressed natural gas and seat up to 35 people.
gdickson@star-telegram.com
