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Will Spotsylvania drive its own bus?

May 18, 2007 12:36 am

By DAN TELVOCK

Spotsylvania supervisors want county staff to explore ways to provide bus service that could complement a larger regional program in the future.

Right now, FREDericksburg Regional Transit provides two bus routes that originate in Spotsylvania. In April, there were 3,962 boardings in Spotsylvania, according to FRED.

But some supervisors say constituents are asking for more as the county's contribution toward the bus system has increased.

"Taxpayers are paying for FRED and a lot of taxpayers aren't getting any benefit from FRED at all," said Supervisor T.C. Waddy at a May 8 supervisors meeting.

The Board of Supervisors hasn't necessarily welcomed transit opportunities. Spotsylvania never had a majority of supervisors agree to join the Virginia Railway Express, though voters approved a bond package in 2005 that includes $12 million for a station. Supervisors tabled meetings with FRED staff in late 2004 to discuss five new routes and nothing has materialized since then.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Yakabouski said FRED isn't meeting its mission "to provide safe, dependable, efficient, and affordable public transportation to the citizens and visitors of the Fredericksburg region."

He said the service caters to those who don't drive, while it should focus on commuters.

"Public transportation should be about getting cars off the road," he said.

FRED does have plans to help some commuters.

Buses are on order to provide shuttle service to the downtown train station for Spotsylvania and city Virginia Railway Express riders.

FRED serves not only Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, but also Caroline, King George and Stafford counties. Buses generally run weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

"I want it to work, but it is just not working as well as I think it could," Yakabouski said.

Supervisor Gary Jackson said Spotsylvania supervisors have little control over the bus service. He suggested county staff explore private-entity proposals for bus service. He envisions a county bus service that feeds into a larger regional service, which he believes FRED will become.

"This is not unusual. Just look north. That's how it operates up north," Jackson said. "I don't have any criticism of the FRED service. And frankly, I am just suggesting we explore this."

Last summer, county staff finished a transit study that says the county government wouldn't save any money if it or the private sector provided the service. The study also says that the county's lack of long-term transit goals may create a situation where FRED officials aren't really sure what the county wants.

During their May 8 meeting, supervisors endorsed a FRED fare increase from 25 cents to 50 cents. If Fredericksburg City Council approves the rate increase, it will be the first one since service started in 1996. Supervisors, again, asked FRED to sell ads on the outside of its buses.

Kathy Beck, transit manager, said a committee formed when FRED was created, and it decided the buses should have a unique and attractive look. The committee also wanted the buses to reflect the community and to give people a sense of pride, she said.

Supervisor Hap Connors said he isn't sure the county government is ready to run its own bus service. If approximately 16,000 people are commuting inside this region, he wants to know where and provide the bus service for them in an effort to get cars off the road.

"I believe any transit solution has to be regional," Connors said.