Knoxville News Sentinel: Local transit demand keeps on rising

[marmar]

Local transit demand keeps on rising
KAT, city officials look for ways to meet service needs
Mike Blackerby, [e-mail]
Wednesday, June 11, 2008




Rapidly escalating fuel costs have Knoxville Area Transit officials and city leaders scrambling for ways to meet rising demands for public transportation without slashing services.

Officials painted a picture of a daunting - but not impossible - road ahead for the city's mass transit system during a Tuesday brainstorming session at the John T. O'Connor Senior Center.

Members of the Knoxville Transportation Authority, City Council and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam bandied about ways to balance skyrocketing fuel costs with public transportation needs.

"We can't afford to continue doing business as we have in the past," said Cindy McGinnis, KAT general manager. "Our budgeted revenues are not covering budgeted expenses. Fuel prices have significantly impacted KAT's budget."

The surge in fuel prices comes at a time when KAT ridership - which has increased each of the last 13 years - is up 10 percent over a year ago. Roughly 3.8 million passengers rode on KAT's fleet of 120 vehicles last year, representing 13,500 trips a day.

"When I got started in this business 25 years ago, you couldn't even get fuel to show up as a slice on a pie chart" of operating expenses, said McGinnis. "Five years ago, it went to 5 percent. This year, it's expected to be 15 percent - and that's based on $3.60 a gallon." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/11/local-transit-demand-keeps-on-rising/