CityBus announces Thanksgiving service changes, 3A detour expires

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — CityBus will not operate on Thursday, November 27 due to the Thanksgiving
holiday. Additionally, the Purdue Campus Loop routes will not operate from 6:00p Tuesday, November
25, through the weekend, including evening and night buses. Campus Loop service resumes on Monday, December 1.

Regular route and trolley riders should be aware that when Purdue classes are not held, as will be the case on Wednesday, November 26 and Friday, November 28, the following changes occur:

1. Route 4B Purdue West/Downtown detours through Purdue Village when inbound. There is no inbound service on State St. between Airport Rd. and S. Martin Jischke Dr.
2. 5 Happy Hollow service is reduced to one bus operating on a 60 minute frequency from 9:30AM to 4:00PM.
3. Route 8 Klondike Express does not operate on days when classes are not held.
4. The Wabash Trolley Line follows the Black Line route. S. River
   Rd., Williams, and S. Grant will not be served.

Route 3A Lafayette Square Detour Expires

The detour on route 3A Lafayette Square, which has been in effect for several months, will expire on Monday morning, November 24. The bus route has been detouring due to the closure of State St. and Earl Ave. These streets are now open.

CityBus will continue operating the detour through Sunday, November 23 in order to allow time for passengers to become aware of the change.

Beginning on Monday, November 24, the bus will follow its regular route. The outbound bus will follow State St., 26th St., and Teal Rd. to 18th St. The inbound bus will follow Teal Rd., 22nd St., and State
St. to 18th St.

CityBus detour to affect route 3A Lafayette Square

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — CityBus announced today that the intersection of State Street and 22nd Street at Earl Avenue in Lafayette will close due to construction beginning Tuesday, September 9, for approximately three months.

3A Lafayette Square buses will not be able to serve State St., 26th, 22nd, or Teal Rd. (between 26th and 18th streets). Both inbound and outbound 3A buses will remain on 18th St. for the duration of the
construction project, serving 18th St. between Main St. and Shoshone.

All passengers usually boarding along State, 26th, 22nd, or Teal Rd. east of 18th St. will need to walk to 18th St. to board the 3A buses.

Jeff H.S. and Tecumseh students who currently board the inbound 3A along 22nd St. will need to board at the bus stop at Hiatt and 18th St.

CityBus rides free and easy with Purdue ID

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Owning a Purdue ID card means a free ride on CityBus — good news for many Purdue students, faculty and staff members who want to save the costs of driving to and parking at the West Lafayette campus.

CityBus and Purdue have a contracted partnership in which Purdue students, faculty and staff have unlimited, fare-free access to the CityBus system. The access is not just on campus routes but on any CityBus route.

Ridership, which has increased steadily over the past several years, is increasing more rapidly this year thanks to higher prices for gas and many other goods and services.

“Ridership was up nearly 17 percent for the month of June and is up more than 9 percent so far for 2008,” says John Metzinger, manager of development for CityBus of Greater Lafayette. Metzinger says CityBus provided more than 2.5 million rides this year through the end of June.

Larry Farr, a clerk at the University News Service, says he has been a bus rider for years.

“I’ve used public transportation all my life,” Farr says. “I use it now mainly because Purdue pays for it. I wonder why more people don’t use it.”

Farr says it takes him about 40 minutes to get to work, including walk time to the bus stop a block from his house and to ENAD from his drop-off spot on campus. And it takes him about 30 minutes to get home.

“I have driven in to work on occasion and after finding a spot to park and walking, it takes me about the same amount of time,” he says. “Riding the bus is just simpler, saves on gas and aggravation. And I usually read a book both ways.”

Deborah Klinger, a secretary in foods and nutrition, began riding the bus this year when service was extended to near her home. She had never ridden a bus before but after giving it a try, she’s convinced it’s a great way to travel.

“I live off 350 South in Lafayette and was thrilled when I learned that they were going to extend the routes to our location,” Klinger says. “I started riding in January when the route opened and have ridden every day I can since.

“It is just wonderful to be ‘chauffeured’ from the Wal-Mart Plaza on 350 South to right in front of my building. The drivers are friendly and very helpful, it saves me in gas money, I don’t have to experience the stress of driving in bad weather, I don’t have to find parking, and I have made friends with a whole new group of people who work here at Purdue and in the West Lafayette area. It has been nothing but a positive experience.”

According to CityBus figures for 2007, faculty and staff ridership averaged more than 11,600 rides per month with a high of 12,282 rides in October.

Metzinger says CityBus drivers are noticing more faculty, staff and students taking the bus this year.

“With gas prices the way they are, we want to make sure faculty and staff know that they only need to show their Purdue ID to ride the bus for free,” he says.

Those who would like to learn more about CityBus routes or need assistance finding the right route can call 742-RIDE or visit www.gocitybus.com. The Web site lists all CityBus routes and bus stops and also has a feature in which you can type in your bus stop and find out how long it will be until the bus arrives.

CityBus considering changes to Happy Hollow route; seeks input, comments from public

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — CityBus officials are considering changes to a bus route and are asking for help from riders and the public. Public meetings are scheduled to discuss proposed changes to route “5 Happy Hollow,” which serves University Farm, Bar Barry Heights, Soldiers Home Rd., Happy Hollow Rd., River Rd. and the Purdue campus.

The proposal is available for review here: http://www.gocitybus.com/planning/happyhollow2008change/proposal1.htm

“We are proposing the changes in response to customer comments, and to improve performance efficiencies,” said John Metzinger, Manager of Development. The proposal provides a more direct return trip to the Soldiers Home Rd. area while bypassing areas served by other bus routes.

Route changes are expected to have the following results:

1. Better service for residents along Soldiers Home Rd. by providing a direct return trip.
2. Service along Salisbury & Barlow will be discontinued.
3. Service along S. Grant and Wood St. will be discontinued.
4. Service along Catherwood will be discontinued.
5. Weekday reduction in service of 1 hour 22 minutes.

Public meetings are scheduled for Monday, July 21st at 2:00PM and 5:00PM. Both meetings will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 211 Knox Dr., West Lafayette, in Gathering Room 3. This location is served by the Happy Hollow bus.

CityBus operates a fleet of 73, including four hybrid buses. It logged nearly 4.7 million passenger trips in 2007, including more than 340,000 on the free downtown/Purdue trolley.

CityBus Downtown Transfer Center to be closed July 18, 19

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — CityBus announces that the Riehle Plaza Downtown Transfer Center will be closed Friday evening, July 18, through Sunday, July 20th. CityBus’s customer service office will be closed during this time. The city is replacing carpet inside the facility.

On Saturday, July 19, Riehle Plaza will be closed due to “Dancing in the Streets.” Buses will meet for transfers on Third St. between Ferry and Cincinnati streets.

Next Page »