There is a projected deficit of $178,000 in the Oneonta Public Transit budget, and, not surprisingly, rising fuel costs were cited as the chief cause.
In 2004, the city spent $99,415 on fuel and lubricants for its fleet, said Mayor John Nader, adding "we're essentially $300,000 above that (for this year)."
To remedy that, the city is looking to use grants and surplus funds from last year, as well as "taking a look at places where we may be able to reduce costs," Nader said. Bus fares and routes were indicated as possible places to enact such change.
A related issue facing Oneonta Public Transit is the fact that many large buses carry a limited number of passengers, or none at all.
OPT Director Jack Snyder said that is most common during the middle of the day, especially during hot weather. OPT did report that it has seen more riders and has been fielding more inquiries about the routes, perhaps as a result of the higher cost of gasoline. Passenger Catherine DiLena, a regular OPT rider waiting for a bus from Oneonta to Otego on Aug. 7, said that she, too, has noticed "there's a lot more people taking the bus."
We encourage people to take advantage of the transit system, because it is a good way to save money. The fares, even if they do go up to reflect the rise in gas prices, will still be a incredible deal. One-way trips through the city and town of Oneonta cost 65 cents, to Cooperstown is $1.30, and to Otego $1. Hopping on a bus every once in a while, or making it a part of one's regular routine, could turn out to be pretty helpful in tight economic times.
We also encourage OPT to more strenuously advertise its routes, perhaps with pamphlets or fliers, which would make the information more readily accessible to potential riders and draw in more business.
Route information is available at the OPT station on Main Street or on the website www.oneonta.ny.us/community/transportation.asp. Information about the 12 routes of Otsego Express ("Gus the Bus") can be found at www.otsegoexpress.com. The Otsego Express has routes that criss-cross the county, connecting the smaller communities with Cooperstown and Oneonta.
In the event that bus usage doesn't increase, we urge OPT to look into getting smaller vehicles as a way to cut fuel costs. That could include smaller buses or perhaps even vans, in some cases. The use of huge vehicles seems like a waste for many routes when they are carrying a small percentage of their capacity.
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