County will apply for grant to subsidize bus service

CANTON — St. Lawrence County's commuter bus may get a reprieve from deep budget cuts lawmakers are considering in next year's $222 million spending plan, but one legislator said Friday the one-way fare must be increased dramatically to win his support.

Legislators have unanimously given Transportation Coordinator Nancy A. Robert permission to apply for a two-year, $197,100 federal aid package to subsidize the service, which connects Ogdensburg, Canton, Potsdam and Massena, as well as Gouverneur to Watertown via a separate route.

The one-way fare is $1.50, and officials are considering raising it to $2 next year.

"If it's only going up by 50 cents, I'm not going to be too happy," said Legislator David W. Forsythe, R-Lisbon. "You can't even get a taxi in Ogdensburg to take you three blocks for $3. It's got to pay for itself."

The county is slated to pay $69,961 of the service's estimated $477,399 cost next year. State and federal transportation aid will pay for the rest.

Mrs. Robert said the state Department of Transportation also has tentatively approved $515,640 from the federal stimulus package for new buses, bus stop shelters and signs.

She said she expects the bus to make 30,000 one-way trips by the end of the year, up from 28,398 trips in 2008. Mrs. Robert said about half of all riders are senior citizens, 25 percent are commuting workers, 20 percent are college students and 5 percent are other riders.

Laurie E. Kreider, Potsdam, said she has been a regular commuter for the past seven weeks. She said Friday that the bus helped boost her independence.

"It's completely made a difference in my life," said Ms. Kreider, who is visually impaired. "It wouldn't be possible for me to get around without the bus system."

Ms. Kreider secured an internship with the Massena Independent Living Center as a consumer advocate and resource specialist. She said she landed the internship through the state Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped and St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Transition Services.

"There are no opportunities within walking distance from my home. I can travel on foot with my dog without a problem, but I obviously couldn't walk from Potsdam to Massena," Ms. Kreider said. "The bus expands my horizons outside of Potsdam."

The bus schedule and route information are available online at www.commuterbusinfo.com.