To the Editor:

As the director of Cy-Ride, it is my duty to provide safe, reliable bus service for the people of Ames, while exercising the most responsible fiscal management possible. Cy-Ride currently receives about $450,000 from the Federal Transit Assistance for general operations. This is 15% of our total operating budget. Proposed cutbacks in our federal operating assistance range from a 40% reduction ($180,000) to a 100% reduction ($450,000) over four years. Faced with these reductions, Cy-Ride must either reduce expenses or increase revenue or some combination of both. There are several choices available.

* Cut overhead expenses. We can save $138,000 in wages and benefits by eliminating a mechanic, a dispatcher and our safety and training supervisor. This will result in less professionally trained drivers and poorly maintained buses. We could eliminate a manager, but there are only three managers supervising 92 employees.

* Convert capital to operating funds. 33% of Cy-Ride’s buses are more than 25 years old. Buses are designed to last 12 years. Cy-Ride cannot continue to offer safe, reliable service without replacing aging buses in a timely manner.

* Raise revenue from passengers. A $1.25 fare for adults and a 60› fare for students would raise $200,000, if ridership remained constant. Raising fares often affects ridership. Two years ago a 13% increase in Cy-Ride fares resulted in a 13% drop in ridership and no net increase in passenger revenue.

* Freeze or reduce wages. Cy-Ride drivers rank 62 out of 73 union positions in the City of Ames. Wages are negotiated through the union contract. Current wage rates are consistent with the responsibilities required of Cy-Ride drivers.

* Eliminate service. Savings of $165,000 could be possible by eliminating Yellow and Brown routes, combining the Purple and Red routes, and reducing Dial-A-Ride service. About 180,000 passengers per year would be affected. Eliminating all weekend service would save $187,000 and would affect about 200,000 passengers per year.

* Increase taxes and fees. The City of Ames, Iowa State University and the Government of the Student Body contribute $1,500,000 per year to Cy-Ride. A 12% increase in the transit tax and a 12% increase in the GSB mandatory student fee next year would bring in about $180,000. If all federal operating support is cut, a 30% increase would be needed. For a $100,000 house, taxes would increase about $10 per year. Student fees would increase about $4.50 per student per semester.

* More state assistance. The State of Iowa Transit Assistance Program contributes 10% of Cy-Ride’s operating budget. Our legislators are being asked, by other interests, to eliminate—not increase — all state transit funding.

* Keep Federal transit funding. Call or write our legislators in Washington to let them know how important high quality transit service is to you and to our community. Please mention Federal Transit Administration Section 18 (the name of the transit assistance program) in your letter. The addresses and telephone numbers are: Representative Jim Lightfoot, 2444 Rayburn Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515-1503 (202-225-3806); Senator Tom Harkin, Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20520 (202-224-3254); Senator Chuck Grassley, Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510 (202-224-3744).

Can you think of other choices for Cy-Ride? If so, please let me know by calling 292-1100 or writing to me at 1700 W. 6th, Ames, IA 50014.

Bob Bourne

Cy-Ride Director