That New Bus Smell

The big white heads of the VTA buses keep making the rounds, wishing every driver or passerby a nice day. Thanks VTA. Watching the buses stop to pick up or drop off at the wave of a hand, it is hard to think about how we lived without them.

From its offices at the airport business park, the transit authority runs one of the most successful rural bus routes in the state.  In 2008 the bus line carried more than 1-million passengers. It is the 7th largest ridership in the state, with the second smallest budget.

Administrator Angela Grant assigns part of the success of the last year to the high cost of gasoline, but there is something else happening. For the period from October through December, when gasoline prices fell sharply, ridership continued to increase. More than 23,000 passengers were carried in December, a nearly 25% increase over last year. Maybe taking the bus is cooler now that the earth is getting hotter?

Despite the success in 2008, the authority will be running a deficit in the coming years as the it tries to weather the economic storm. Angela Grant tells VT that despite the deficit, "overall, we are very sound, financially." The VTA will not be holding back on salary increases for its drivers, as requested by the Island's financial committee members. The VTA can only increase the assessment for each town by 2.5% and Ms. Grant says that they will try to stay under that.

Meanwhile, the buses keep making the routes. Have a nice day.