University of Virginia Library

$55,000 Subsidy

City Favors Continued Busing

By TONY ANIKEEFF

In conjunction with its
overall plan to improve traffic
flow through Charlottesville
and keep the foundering transit
system alive, the City Council
in its Monday night meeting
indicated approval of a
$55,000 subsidy to assure
continued bus service through
May 1, 1974.

The subsidy, retroactive to
May 1, 1973, will guarantee
the community complete bus
service for the next year,
according to J.T. Graves,
owner of the Yellow Transit
Company. During the past two
years of operation, the
Company has had a deficit of
$21,000 and $44,000 and
expects the amount to increase
in the coming year.

As a result of the deficit,
Mr. Graves requested a $.10
fare increase, curtailed the East
Market-Grady Avenue run and
cut service on four other runs
by one hour.

Resume Operations

In order to receive the
subsidy, Mr. Graves will be
required to resume the full
operations of one month ago,
according to a source in the
City Manager's office. The
subsidy is also subject to the
present fare not being raised.

Mr. William Mitchell,
Administrative Assistant to the
City Manager said, "The
council made this stipulation,
as the cutbacks and fare
increase would create an undue
hardship for those who depend
on the buses."

'Justifiable'

City Manager Cole Hendrix
said, "It is justifiable to
subsidize the bus system
because it is the only
economical form of
transportation for the 1800
people who ride it daily. We do
not have a street system
capable of handling them in
private cars."

The subsidy would be a
temporary measure to keep the
system in operation until a
mass transit study of
Charlottesville has been made.

Next Summer

The study, expected to be
completed next summer, will
be a complete examination of
all aspects of the Transit
system in Charlottesville,
according to Mr. Mitchell. "It
will attempt to arrive at a
solution for the current
transportation problems that
exist in Charlottesville, and
how the Charlottesville
residents and University
students can be moved from
point A to point B more
efficiently," he said.

Councilman Mitchell Van
Yahres has urged residents of
Charlottesville who have
criticized the street widening
program to actively support
the bus system, "because you
are now paying for it."