Commissioners to Cut CCT Bus Routes

The Cobb County Commissioners are poised to cut service to three lesser-used transit bus routes at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The board on the issue at its last meeting to give Cobb Transportation more time to try and sort out particulars of the move on routes 35, 65 and 70.

The decision, part of cutting 10 percent from all county departments, also includes what to do with the paratransit buses that follow the same routes and serve the disabled community.

The affected paratransit users could be grandfathered in and keep service. But some commissioners have said that might be difficult to do financially.

If approved, the regular routes will close Aug. 1.

In previous years, when fixed routes were changed or eliminated, paratransit riders were allowed to continue using the paratransit system, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

Federal regulations require that public transportation provide paratransit service that is comparable to the level of service for individuals without disabilities.

Grandfathering of locations and individuals in Cobb exceeds these regulations, according the Cobb transportation department’s proposal, the MDJ reported.

In April, commissioners revised the 2011 budget and mandated 10 percent cuts to all departments, including Cobb County Transit.

Of the CCT’s $18.4 million budget for 2011, about 25 to 30 percent is funded by fares, which are $4 for express bus and paratransit and $2 for one-way local routes. The rest of the budget is subsidized by taxpayer money, according to the MDJ.

Started in 1989, CCT has 16 local lines, which run along surface streets, and eight express bus lines that travel during peak hours.

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