New routes, new stops, new fares heading Sandusky Transit's way

SANDUSKY — Sandusky Transit officials accelerated forward with a plan to radically redesign public transportation services.During a recent public meeting, city commissioners approved major changes to all local busing operations, effective Feb. 6.The highlights include increasing fare rates, introducing a fourth SPARC line and adding a net of 37 extra stops along those routes."What this allows us to do is maintain a quality service by spending less money," transit administrator Marvin Ranaldson said.Each new SPARC route is shorter in length and more direct, providing a quicker round-trip experience for riders compared to larger, indirect loops buses take today.The average passenger can expect a 12-minute reduction in ride time.Among the more extreme examples: A trip from downtown Sandusky to Wal-Mart would only take 26 minutes in either direction, coming or going. Today, the same trip takes 40 minutes in one direction and an hour in the other."It will be a lot easier to get around," Ranaldson said. "Keeping riders on the bus for longer times means there is less space for other riders. People spending less time on the bus will be beneficial to all parties."Fixing the funding issueSeveral reasons — inefficient and unreliable routes, overcrowding issues and an overall confusing layout — contributed to these changes.But money mattered the most in completely overhauling transit operations.The transit account collectively lost about $1.1 million since 2013, which includes a projected $325,000 shortfall from 2016.The Sandusky Transit account collectively lost about $1.1 million since 2013, When the transit account generates a shortfall, local laws dictate city commissioners must provide a bailout so transit can break even.Money then gets swapped out of Sandusky's everyday operating budget — covering many daily services, such as police and fire operations — to make the transit account whole. In 2014, for instance, officials sacrificed services, such as periodically closing a fire station, to make up a financial gap."It's important to me that this system is sustainable and maintainable," Ranaldson said. "I don't want anyone to ever threaten to shut down transit again." Despite facing some financial setbacks, commissioners tasked Ranaldson to make transit as close to a break-even operation as possible in 2017."Transit is incredibly important to both residents and businesses in Erie County," Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr. said. "Virtually, every other state provides significant funding for public transit. Ohio does not. With the additional cuts that we know are coming from the federal portion of transit funding, we had to make changes in order for transit to be sustainable."About two years ago, Murray gave a stern directive: If transit operations keep losing a substantial amount of money, the system must cease to exist.He backed off the stance, most notably because transit provided a record 200,000-plus rides in 2016. Today, Murray remains one of transit's strongest supporters.Murray also stressed officials in neighboring communities benefiting from transit — namely Perkins Township, Huron Township and Milan — must contribute funds to help sustain this service."Sandusky has demonstrated its commitment to funding transit, but there is a limit to how far we can go without additional help from our government and business partners countywide," Murray said.A woman walks off a Sandusky Transit bus during a stop on Meigs Street on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.Sandusky Transit changesAmong the changes coming to the city's public transportation services, effective Feb. 6:SPARC trips• Increasing fares from $1 to $1.50*• Introducing a fourth route to better cover Sandusky, Perkins Township and Erie County.• Replacing the three existing counter-clockwise loops with four new lateral, or back-and-forth, routes, which should save the average rider 12 minutes in travel time• Adding 37 extra stops for a total of 95 stops, up from 58 in the current system• Maintaining most stops in place in the current system• Eliminating some underperforming stops in the current system and folding them into nearby, safer stops• Offering several transfer points, such as in downtown Sandusky and at the Sandusky Mall, allowing riders to easily jump from one SPARC route to another• Creating some built-in cushion, or "wiggle room," to ensure buses won't run late or can catch up when behind schedule• Reducing service to Kalahari Resorts and EHOVE Career Center, including no stops on Saturdays and holidays• Pausing service from 10-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. on SaturdaysDemand Response trips• Increasing fares from $4 to $5*• Prohibiting "able-bodied" people from riding Demand Response in certain areas and forcing them to use SPARC service* Denotes fare rates for people receiving a discount or free tip won't changeNote: People receiving free trips through a local service organization, such as Serving Our Seniors, will still receive free trips.Source: Sandusky TransitReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.A Sandusky Transit bus prepares to make a stop on Meigs Street on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.