When it comes to buses in the area, the new Transportation Services manager for Athens Transit is questioning whether quality is better than quantity.
Athens has five separate bus networks running eight different routes, each with different timetables and fare policies, leading to confusion for potential passengers who might be underserved or even overlooked, said Michael Lachman, Transportation Servicers manager for Athens Transit.
Local apartment complexes such as The Summit at Coates Run, University Courtyard and University Commons offer their own private bus routes for residents.
In addition to the private bus networks, the city of Athens contracts with Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action to manage Athens Transit, and Ohio University operates the Campus Area Transit Service.
Lachman has made a proposal that would consolidate the services into a single, more-efficient bus network that would be free to all riders.
An express line would take travelers from campus to East State Street, while “cross-campus feeder routes” would connect Uptown Athens to different neighborhoods in the city.
Although Lachman was hired to Athens Transit in January, he presented his proposal to Student Senate this month on his own behalf in order to get the public on board with his plan, he said.
“If a city really can offer a complete bus system, it increases the competiveness of institutions in the city,” Lachman said. “That’s why I see OU students as the most important group for Athens’ public transit.”
Some of the private bus systems, operated by residential complexes, aren’t entirely sold on the idea.
“I think things are perfectly efficient the way they are,” said Theresa Stobart, office manager for University Commons. “Our service runs our exclusive route and is something we offer only to our residents, and therefore, they don’t have to share with other people.”
The Summit offers bus services during the school week from about 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., making four stops on campus before returning to the apartment complex on Richland Avenue, Stobart said.
Kris Puyle, property manager for Courtyard, declined to comment on the proposal, but she did say she would be interested in exploring the possibility of a consolidated bus network.
CATS and the Summit could not be reached for comment. After convincing the current bus operators, the next step would be to take the proposal to City Council, Lachman said.
“Council would have to approve any major reconfiguration of the system,” Lachman said, “which would include at least a two-month public-comment process.”
Although it might be too early to tell if a consolidation of the city’s bus services is probable for Athens, the concept makes sense, said Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at large, who chairs the Transportation Committee.
“Right now, we just have multiple bus systems running the same routes, and if we make it more efficient, then I think everyone benefits,” Gosney said. “It wouldn’t be without challenges, but it’s something that makes sense to me, especially since other city’s have been able to have this work.”
jj360410@ohiou.edu
*A previous version of this story misidentified Kris Pyle as a University Commons employee. Puyle is property manager for University Courtyard. The article also misstated employees at University Courtyard could not be reached for comment. Rather, The Summit could not be reached for comment.
A previous version of this story misidentified Theresa Stobart as an employee of The Summit at Coates Run. Stobart is office manager for University Commons. The article also misstated that The Summit owns and operates two buses for its residents. Rather, The Commons owns two busses. The article also misstated that The Commons could not be reached for comment. Rather, The Summit could not be reached for comment.
