TARTA plans a trial run

7/26/2006

Call-A-Ride service in Perrysburg could become more flexible next month because TARTA officials agreed to do away with the services' structured bus route on a trial basis.

The city's ad hoc TARTA review panel, which has a September deadline for making the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority more useful to city residents, plans to discuss the bus line's proposal within a few weeks, committee chairman Kevin Rantanen said.

Jim Gee, TARTA's general manager, wrote in an e-mail to Mr. Rantanen that the trial service could begin Aug. 27.

Though it would not follow a route, the Call-A-Ride bus would make scheduled stops at Way Public Library, the Country Charm shopping center, and the Kroger on Carronade Drive. Mr. Gee told the committee this month those stops are needed so riders can transfer to or from the fixed-route buses that serve the city. The timing of the stops would be set to minimize the wait time for transfers.

The committee had asked to get rid of the Call-A-Ride route to make the service faster and so drivers could backtrack to drop off riders. Riders have said riding the whole loop around the city can take an hour.

TARTA also plans to put magnetic signs with the Perrysburg Call-A-Ride phone number on the buses, so people can call when they see a bus nearby.

The committee is mailing a survey about TARTA service to Perrysburg residents soon.