CyRide is reducing service on its yellow route and raising fares to help alleviate budget pressure.

The yellow route is being reduced in service to make up for next year’s $40,000 reduction in federal funding. The route runs mostly along South Duff Avenue, with other stops at Ames City Hall and Kate Mitchell Elementary.

Grace Freese, senior in dietetics, said she rides the yellow route to class every day. The reduction in service means she’ll have to stay on campus most of the day instead of riding home between classes.

“I’m sure it will cause inconveniences for some people, but for me [the yellow route] is more of a luxury,” Freese said. “I could drive to class, but it’s just a nuisance.”

Bob Bourne, director of transportation at CyRide, said this is a hard time because of a federal funding reduction for CyRide and the uncertainty of next year’s state funding.

“It’s pretty tight right now,” Bourne said. “But there is support from students, city of Ames property taxes and Iowa State.”

The CyRide Transit Board decided to reduce service on the yellow route by eliminating the 11:16 a.m., 1:22 p.m. and 2:22 p.m. trips. The new limited schedule will go into effect when the summer schedule begins in May.

The yellow route usually uses a smaller bus, and it was targeted for cuts because it has the least number of passengers.

Bourne said the route has a daily average of about 60 passengers, of which only 15-20 percent are ISU students.

Paul Klimesh, 4145 Toronto St., is a full-time driver for CyRide who drives the yellow route on a regular basis.

“The yellow route serves a very specific area, so some people need it because it’s all they have,” Klimesh said.

“But for most people it’s just a matter of convenience.”

He said although the route has never been busy, it had more daily passengers when he began driving for CyRide almost eight years ago.

CyRide is also increasing fares, but ISU students with a current ISU card will continue to ride the buses for free, although other local riders will pay more for each ride starting March 1.

Adult passengers will pay $1 for a one-way bus fare instead of 75 cents. The reduced one-way fare for K-12 students, senior citizens, passengers with disabilities and Medicare cardholders will be 50 cents, up from 35 cents.

Raising fares will give CyRide the money to rehire an afternoon/evening supervisor, a position that was eliminated after the state cut back funding for transit last year.