BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky expects to save about $275,000 a year in operating costs as a result of several route changes approved Wednesday.
Though some cuts were made, the decision to retain Sunday services on Route 3-Ludlow - Bromley and Route 11-Fort Thomas was good news for residents who were vocal about a proposal to eliminate both services.
TANK also will continue to operate Route 16-Grand Towers Apartments on weekends, following pleas by several local governments and residents to do so. However, passengers on Route 16 will be surveyed to determine whether any changes on this route are warranted.
"I would say the people spoke and TANK listened. I think our public input process is a good one," said TANK General Manager Mark Donaghy.
Once park and ride locations are found in the Fort Wright portion of Route 4-Park Hills and along Route 9-Taylor Mill, changes will occur on both routes.
For Route 4, service will be halted to the Barrington, Morris, Howard, General and Fort Henry loop in Fort Wright. Instead, this route will be extended to serve the areas of
Highland Crossings and Fayette Circle in Fort Wright.
As for Route 9, selected trips will serve Fidelity Investments. Reduction of the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. service and service to McCullum, Oliver and Cox in Independence also will be stopped. The new shopping center at Harris and Ky. 17 will serve as a turn-around point.
It was decided to continue studying whether to add:
- A Cross County Express service, geared for Campbell County residents who work in Boone County.
- A Walton-Burlington Shuttle, which would operate midday and Saturday service between the cities to Florence Mall, Florence Square and Mall Road.
- A TANK Demand Response Service, which would provide service on an "as-needed" basis. It would also include the creation of non-traditional services.
In unrelated changes, TANK is altering times on Route 17X-Villa Hills. The first two morning trips to Cincinnati will be moved from 6:40 to 6:30, and the 7:05 trip to 7:00. These changes, effective today, reflect the times buses leave Prospect Point.
