FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne's NBC) -- Leaders with Fort Wayne's Citilink bus service hope offering free fares from now through the end of November will not only boost ridership but potentially help with our area's labor shortage.
"The pandemic had some really great impacts on public transportation nationwide, so ridership losses were experienced by transit agencies around the country," said Citilink's General Manager John Metzinger.
In Fort Wayne alone, Citilink's ridership dropped 40% during the pandemic.
"Many organizations closed down to a certain degree, the ability to eat in restaurants probably impacted those front line workers not only from working but also from riding transit to those jobs. So we're very much about providing labor mobility, so Citilink moves people who are going to work," he said.
He says Congress recognized that public transportation provides access to opportunity and passed the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year, which gave Citilink $8.3 million for operating expenses.
He says even when ridership is up the fares don't cover all operating expenses, so Citilink relies on local, state, and federal subsidies.
This new federal infusion of cash means Citilink can provide free bus rides from now through November, no questions asked.
All you have to do is hop on a bus and wear a mask because of federal transit regulations.
He says the money will also better ensure riders' safety.
"Cleaning and sanitation of facilities and buses, and we're also going to install a permanent barrier to protect the bus driver from not only assault but also from the risk of disease spread," Metzinger said.
Long-term, he wants to expand Citilink service to meet greater needs in the community.
But he says right now, he hopes people will take advantage of free fares.
"I think it's about time they done something like that, truthfully, you know? I think it's a good thing. How much will it help you? From getting from A to B, my job and back and forth," Greg Hershberger said.
"I wish it was like that when I didn't have a car at the time. But it'll help a lot of people out, and I'm glad that there's federal money to help these people get on the bus because not a lot of people are working right now because of COVID. I know COVID's going down but yeah, I think it'll help," LaMontrai Board added.
New routes are being explored in the coming months to get people to and from job opportunities near the airport as well as Amazon's planned distribution center along U.S. 30.
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