In an effort to better serve residents, Pine Bluff Transit debuted two new buses earlier this month and will welcome a third new bus later this month.
Pine Bluff Transit Director Charlina Lacy said the department is better able to meet the needs of residents with its expanded fleet. The previous fleet of four buses was not ideal in that when one bus needed a repair, the customers were adversely affected.
“We needed to add to our fleet. [Until this month] we had four buses running 12 hours a day for five days a week. When you have one bus out of commission, it is tough to get citizens around,” she said.
The new cutaway buses carry 14 people comfortably plus two wheelchairs, Lacy said. The cutaways include an electric wheelchair lifter and a mechanism for making sure the driver checks that no one is left on the bus.
People who use wheelchairs have access to all of the buses, Lacy said. The cutaways use unleaded fuel instead of diesel, which saves money. With unleaded gasoline averaging $3.10 per gallon and diesel fuel averaging $4.19 per gallon, this difference is substantial, Lacy said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“We have been saving money on the cutaway buses,” Lacy said. “These new buses are easily able to get around the city. The cutaways have individual seats, offering more room and more comfort.”
The three new buses cost a total of $174,000. In an effort to better serve customers, Lacy said she is looking at adding a route in Watson Chapel and White Hall, which are currently not served.
“We intend to implement those routes by late 2014 or early 2015,” Lacy said. “Customers love the cutaways. They offer a pleasant ride,” Lacy said. “I am excited by the positive feedback. I did not know how our customers were going to receive them.”
The new buses are painted red, steel gray and white with the logo and slogan Ride the Bluff. The third new bus will include a pink part touting breast cancer awareness.
One bus serves about 220 people to 290 people on an average day. Fewer people ride the buses toward the end of the month.
A fare costs $1. People with a physical disability pay 50 cents and people age 62 and older ride for free. Of the six existing routes, the busiest destinations are Walmart, East Harding Avenue and the Dollarway area.
Pine Bluff assistant to the mayor Evelyn Horton said she has not heard any complaints from customers about a lack of buses or bus routes. On the contrary, municipal employees wanted to be proactive by expanding the bus service, she said.
“Our transit director Charlina Lacy is doing a wonderful job of training her staff,” Horton said. “Our new buses are equipped to handle clients in wheelchairs. They can go to the shopping center. These buses will allow our citizens to be more independent.”
Horton said that Lacy is preparing an assessment that will be presented to the mayor and ultimately the city council.