CMRTA Announces Less Severe Bus Service Cuts

A new plan for the Midlands bus system will lessen the impact of cuts in service and balance the system's budget. 

Officials with the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority announced a plan Tuesday that will consolidate some routes and eliminate others, according to a report on midlandsconnect.com. 

Routes 36A and 36B, Route 35 and Route 15B will be eliminated, according to reports. Routes 3, 8, 11, and 12 will be consolidated. (View descriptions and maps of the routes.)

A plan presented to bus riders in January proposed stopping bus services at midday, on Saturdays and by 6:45 p.m. each day, according to a report in The State. The new plan will avoid those cuts. Buses will run until 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The CMRTA is expected to implement the new cuts by May 14, according to reports.

Richland County Council still may consider putting a referendum on the November ballot asking voters to increase the sales tax for transportation needs, including the bus service, according to a report in The State. The funds would go toward improving the scaled-back bus system.