MITS bus riders will have a chance to voice their opinions about the scheduled summer route changes at two local hearings this week.
The MITS board of directors is having a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the MITS headquarters on Seymour Street.
Mary Gaston, assistant general manager for MITS, said the goal of the meeting is to give people an opportunity to hear the proposal and ask questions before the plan is implemented.
The plan, which will reduce the Wal-Mart route and increasing the intervals from 15- to 30-minute intervals, would save the company an estimated $76,000 during the slow summer months, she said.
Gaston said Ball State University students are a "very important part of [the MITS] ridership," but that they rely less on MITS during the summer.
She said although the forum is required, the board wants to hear people's opinions on the matter. However, Gaston was unsure of how much this would influence the plans of the company.
"There'll be a few people who are inconvenienced," she said. "But for the most part, it will just be different. People tend to resist change."
Residents of Windermere Place will likely be most affected by the change.
Junior Brad Hensley lives at this apartment complex and uses the MITS bus as transportation to and from classes between four and six times a week, he said.
He said he isn't especially worried about the changes because he won't be relying on MITS during the summer, but can see some disadvantages to the changes.
"You get more of a chance to get on the bus with the 15-minute route," Hensley said. "It's gonna be packed."
Reduced routes
- The plan will reduce the Wal-Mart routes and increase the intervals from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
- The reduction would save the company $76,000 during the summer months.
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