Public transportation in Athens was exponentially better in 2013, city officials said, pointing to several entities that had high ridership numbers last year thanks to service upgrades and new marketing techniques.
Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action, perhaps better known locally as HAPCAP, provided about 350,000 rides last year across its many transportation services, said Lantz Repp, Athens mobility management coordinator for the organization.
Speaking at Monday night’s Athens City Council meeting, Michael Lachman, manager of Athens Public Transit, the city’s local bus service, said ridership increased by 22 percent in 2013.
“This is making us the largest rural transit system in the state of Ohio,” Lachman said.
Representatives from HAPCAP, GoBus and Athens Public Transit appeared before council to summarize the year’s transportation efforts. HAPCAP manages most GoBus and Athens Public Transit operations.
Repp, who also works with Athens On Demand, a division of Athens Public Transit that provides door-to-door transportation services to people with disabilities, said more than 3,500 bus riders were residents with developmental disabilities.
“It really gives people freedom who didn’t have it before,” Repp said.
Councilman Steve Patterson, D-at large, said he has heard many constituents voice appreciation for Athens On Demand. Many use the service to go buy groceries.
“(Repp) has been looking to improve transit routes and make them less redundant, or overlap the university routes,” Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said.
Carolyn Conley, transportation services manager for the GoBus, said 48,000 riders used the GoBus last year. The service saw record ridership in October and November.
“We moved a lot of people to and from around the holidays,” Conley said.
Also at council, during a committee meeting, Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at large, said the city will be appropriating $25,000 to hire a consultant to help form a solid strategy in cooperation with the county regarding electric aggregation.
Council President Jim Sands, who owns the Athens Flower Shop, 252 E. State St., which was the subject of a recent state minimum wage violation lawsuit, was not at the meeting Monday night. After failing to appear in court for a civil dispute last week, the shop now owes more than $30,000.
@eockerman
eo300813@ohiou.edu
Fast Fact:
HAPCAP provided about 350,000 rides last year to Athens residents.
This article originally appeared in print under the headline "Council discusses ridership increase"
