Want to save gas, ride the bus
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

You live in Kilgore. You work in Longview. Gasoline is something north of $3.50 per gallon. You're buying three gallons of gas every day and wearing out the tires on your car.

Or you could ride the bus for $2 each direction. All you have to do is call a day in advance to schedule the trip.

With gas prices climbing, East Texas Rural Transit - directly operated by East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) - offers some relief to those of the general public looking to save a penny or two.

The rural buses serve residents in 14 counties and provide transportation to and from destinations for those who live outside of areas where other, regularly-scheduled public transportation is available. Customers ride in air conditioned mini-buses that are cleaned by the drivers every day.

Roxanne McKinley, ETCOG director of transportation, said the bus service provides an average of 319 daily trips, with 45 buses in operation 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"Ridership has definitely picked up since gas prices have increased." McKinley said. "We have riders going to and from medical appointments, making shopping trips, visiting friends and family and riding to and from work."

McKinley said increased ridership makes up for gas consumption and decreases the amount of time buses sit idle.

ETCOG recently brought in Tommy Hibdon, transportation operations manager, who is experienced transit operations from dispatching to software, to streamline operations and upgrade software. Hibdon works remotely from Lubbock.

"One major function of the new transportation operations manager is to look at efficiencies and evaluate where we can reduce expenses, so the increase in gas and fuel will not have such a major impact," McKinley said. "Right now we are in the process of looking at operational re-organization at the Longview operations office."

According to McKinley, all 45 buses are dispatched by three dispatchers from the Longview office, using Route Match software.

Other changes McKinley expects to see in the coming years are paperless routing, with mobile data computers on every bus and upgrading to GIS remote locators.

McKinley said another project goal is to complete a study with East Texas Regional Coordinated Steering Committee to identify key transfer points in each county.

"We are looking at coordinating with Greyhound, Amtrak and local airports," McKinley said. "

When planning a trip for medical appointments, McKinley said, it is best to check the East Texas Rural Transit to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Some buses travel to and from the Veterans Hospital in Shreveport on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These buses leave from the VA office in Longview.

Bus fees are $2 each way for in-county trips and $5 each way for inter-county trips. Riders over age 60 pay "a suggested donation." Attendants ride at no cost.

Most buses are equipped with a wheelchair lift. Drivers are trained in CPR, first aid, passenger assistance and sensitivity training.

To schedule a ride call 1-800- 590-3371 at least 24 hours in advance.