The rural transit program for Peoria County is facing financial losses each month. That’s despite an increase in ridership. Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports the service could be $200,000 in the red next year if the trend continues:

 

It costs $3s to ride the rural transit service one-way no matter where a person is traveling in the county.  But it’s about $40 per hour to run the program.  Peoria County liaison John Hamann says the buses pick up more fares closer to the city to help make up that difference:

 

“But when we’re running out to the far ends of the County for one or two people, and we’re spending a lot of money on an hourly rate bringing in very little on the fare, three or six dollars on fare, just doesn’t work out.”

 

Hamann says more than half of all rural transit passengers are transported to medical offices.  He says asking medical providers to help with transit costs is one possibility. Hamann says raising fares and creating a Mass Transit District are also considerations.  He says the program will have to look at phasing out some of its services if nothing changes.