CARTS maintains services despite cuts

LISBON - Despite recent cuts, the county's public transportation system continues to provide the same level of services without raising rates, but that may not last.

"We don't know how much longer we can hold (the line on rate increases), but we're going to try," said Phyllis Linderman, director of the Community Action Rural Transit System (CARTS).

The Community Action Agency, which runs CARTS, delivered the CARTS annual report for 2009 to county commissioners Wednesday. Commissioners apply for the federal and state grants that represent about half of CARTS' funding. CARTS has transportation contracts with local social service agencies that generate additional revenue.

Linderman said CARTS revenue totaled $1.3 million in 2008, a $100,000 decline from the previous years. But despite the cuts, they were able to continue expanding services without increasing rates, which were last raised in 2006.

CARTS charges $3 for round trips within the same town, $6 for town-to-town trips within the county, $9 for zone-to-zone trips within the county, $15 for trips of 25 miles or less outside the county, and $25 for trips of up to 50 miles outside the county. The elderly and disabled pay half. These fees raised $44,190 last year.

Expenses totaled just over $1 million last year, the biggest being $770,440 spent on wages and benefits for the 17 full-time and seven part-time employees.

The second biggest expense, not surprisingly, is fuel to power the fleet of 25 vans and mini-buses. CARTS spent $201,418 on gasoline last year, up from $183,000 spent in 2007.

Despite increased fuel costs and decline in operating revenue, CARTS vehicles were driven more miles than ever. According to the report, CARTS vehicles made 64,690 passenger trips (45,294 for the elderly and disabled) covering 584,924 miles. Another 116,184 trips were made encompassing 763,065 miles for students attending CAA-operated Head Start classes for preschool children.

Linderman said they have been able to maintain services in the face of cuts and at a time when other public transit systems are curtailing services. She said they are constantly looking into tweaking the services they provide by expanding hours and adding routes, noting CARTS is the only form of transportation available for some, including people needing to get to and from work.

"It's important to let the people know we're out there, and we're spending their money wisely," Linderman said.

CARTS recently was awarded $537,500 in federal stimulus money for new equipment and to replace six vehicles. Linderman said some of the money will be used to renovate and expand the CARTS garage in Lisbon so the offices can be relocated there from the CAA and to add a waiting room for customers.