SCRANTON -- For months, many bus riders in Lackawanna County were dreading the bad news, that many routes and Saturday service would be cut.
But, the County of Lackawanna Transit System, or COLTS, announced today that services will not go away after all.
Late last year, COLTS was ordered to pay back PennDOT about $6 million for inflating ridership numbers about a decade ago. Over the past six months, COLTS officials found ways to stretch the budget and pay that money back without eliminating services.
Bus riders in Lackawanna County have been expecting bad news, they just didn't know how bad. COLTS had plans to cut services, but they were put on hold while officials sought a better solution.
"It would have hurt a lot of people. A lot of riders rely on our service and rely on Saturday service especially. That was the key. We worked hard to try to save that," said COLTS Executive Director Bob Fiume.
Fiume told Newswatch 16 the company has now decided not go ahead with plans to cut Saturday buses and several weekday routes.
That was the original plan to pay back PennDOT about $6 million by 2017.
But, the people who got on and off the buses every day thought the proposed cuts would hurt them more than it would hurt COLTS.
"I understand the reason why they were doing it, but, it's going really hurt the passengers and not the bus company itself," said David Lupia of Scranton.
"You need to add routes, I think. Because Carbondale doesn't have any other transportation to get out of there. A lot of people come from Carbondale to Scranton to shop," added Caterina Durmiai of Carbondale.
COLTS will make up the money by eliminating three managerial jobs. Lackawanna County will pay more and COLTS will take more money from another state program to pay PennDOT.
Plus, COLTS will save $1 million by using more federal funds for the development on the new Intermodal Center being built on Lackawanna Avenue in Scranton.
COLTS has had an easier time making good with PennDOT than other county transit systems who have also been accused of inflating ridership numbers.
"I think the combination of the open line of service with PennDOT and all of our officials working together with our local officials helped us to be able to come to a conclusion here that was favorable," Bob Fiume said.
COLTS Board of Directors is expected to sign off on the budgetary changes. So, riders won't see any of the proposed cuts in service.
