By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LOVELAND - Council is looking at paying for bus service, after learning the city might lose its only route after 16 years.

Loveland is the only Hamilton County community slated to lose its route entirely on Aug. 22, but several others are facing cutbacks in service as Metro streamlines routes to become more cost-efficient.

Communities along the Montgomery Road corridor, including Madeira and Blue Ash, would experience some of the most noticeable changes as the number of trips is reduced, Metro officials said.

"If we want to maintain the service, we're going to have to invest some dollars in it ourselves," Fred Enderle, Loveland city manager, said.

City officials need more information about costs before they can decide whether to pay for the route, Mayor Brad Greenberg said.

Lack of ridership prompted the cut in Loveland service, Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said. The weekday rush-hour route serves 11 riders daily in five express trips. Under the proposal, residents could catch a bus at Harper's Station at East Kemper and Montgomery roads in Symmes Township, a few miles away, she said.

"When you're spending tax dollars that aren't growing, you have to be as efficient as you can with those dollars," Hilvers said.

That's no consolation to Loveland resident John Lamplot, who expects to spend more time and more money on gas just to get to the bus stop. He rides the Loveland bus three or four days a week to commute to his job at a downtown Cincinnati insurance company.

When he bought a new pickup truck, he said he chose a larger model because he could limit his trips - and the extra gas it would take - by busing to work.

"I figured I could buy my truck with the poor gas mileage because I ride the bus to work, and I only drive it for incidentals," Lamplot said.

He plans to drive about 10 miles to a Park and Ride lot in Kenwood, because more buses stop there when he works overtime.

Hilvers cautioned that some proposed route changes aren't final. Several affected areas, including Lincoln Heights where service was removed from many side streets, are being reconsidered after residents complained, she said.

The thrust of Metro's proposal involves rerouting bus stops off of side streets to Park and Ride lots on main roads or at shopping centers.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com