GLTC cutting some Amherst bus routes

Rising costs and stagnant funding are combining to force service cuts along Madison Heights’ bus routes, the only form of public transit offered in Amherst County.

Routes 5H and 5G will begin seeing reductions as early as September. The two lines, both operated by the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, travel from downtown Lynchburg to shopping destinations in Madison Heights, as well as to the Central Virginia Training Center.

Combined, they have a total of around 20,000 boardings per year, according to GLTC.

Transit officials have not yet made plans for specific service reductions, but say financial constraints have made it necessary to start scaling back.

Amherst allotted $32,078 for bus service in the current fiscal year, the same amount it gave in FY07 and FY08. GLTC had hoped for a raise of nearly $22,000 to

offset rising operating costs.

“Unfortunately, diesel prices are not at FY07 levels anymore,” General Manager Mike Carroll noted. “That presents us with a challenge in terms of how we can continue providing service.”

GLTC is currently drafting several options for change, and will be holding public hearings in the near future for feedback, he added.

The bus system is legally required to give the community advance notice before cutting service, making September the earliest likely date any change would be enacted.

Amherst County was notified of GLTC’s plans earlier this month. The Board of Supervisors received an update on the matter during a meeting on July 15.

The service cuts, the first slated for Madison Heights in a number of years, were not unexpected. County officials were told reductions were likely during their spring budget talks.

County Administrator Rodney Taylor said while they were unable to increase their level of funding, they nevertheless remained committed to continuing the transit program. Amherst is currently the only county that employs GLTC service.

“I think, through their budget, the supervisors have shown their commitment to continuing that service,” Taylor said, noting the county did increase its support for the bus line three years ago.

A raise of just over $11,500 was approved then.

No dates for the public hearings have been set yet. This is the only service reduction anticipated by GLTC this year.

Liberty University, which operates an on-campus bus service, is planning to expand. Lynchburg City, which did see cuts to its service last year, is expected to maintain the status quo.