1/22/08 - Cornell bus route to be expanded

( As published by Cortland Standard, Evan Geibel reporting)

First Transit is responding to a growing number of riders on a new bus route between Cortland and Cornell University by putting a larger bus into service. First Transit operates Cortland’s public transportation system.

Ridership on the route has more than quadrupled since its inception in June, said Cortland Transit Manager Sandie Perry. In December 553 passengers rode the bus, up from 159 passengers in June.

“We had a vehicle that had 24 seats, and we’re working on a larger vehicle — we’ve got it in the shop right now being brought up to DOT (state Department of Transportation) standards,” Perry said Monday afternoon.

The larger bus would hold about 40 passengers, and Perry said the vehicle had been brought in from another First Transit operation.

First Transit had expected to sell only 24 passes, Perry said, but has actually sold 27 and Cornell has a waiting list large enough to fill up the new bus.

Buses serving the route arrive at Riverside Plaza near Interstate 81 Exit 11 by 6:55 a.m. and leaves at 7 a.m. The bus proceeds to the County Office Building and departs from there at 7:07 a.m., continuing to the former Cortlandville Fire Station on Route 281, and leaving that location at 7:15 a.m. The bus travels along Route 13 to Route 366 and arrives at Cornell Veterinary College building on Tower Road in Ithaca at 7:45 a.m., then driving immediately to SUNY Cortland.

The afternoon trip leaves the SUNY Cortland library at 4:25 p.m., once again traveling Route 13 to Route 366 and arriving at the Cornell Veterinary College on Tower Road at 5 p.m. It departs immediately, arriving at the former Cortlandville Fire Station parking lot at 5:30 p.m. and then proceeds to the County Office Building by 5:40 p.m. to make a connection with the last bus runs leaving from that location. The bus then travels to Riverside Plaza, arriving at 5:45 p.m.

Perry said that starting Feb.1, the route would also add an extra stop on the Ithaca side — East Hill Plaza.