'It Sure Beats Walking'

Melissa A. Rogers doesn't enjoy the nine-block trek from her North Pleasant Street home to work during the summer, and it becomes nearly impossible during the winter. So during the snow globe-like weather Watertown experienced Tuesday afternoon, she was happy to use public transportation. Throughout December, Watertown bus riders will be put to the task of filling out surveys explaining why they patronize the service and what improvements they'd like to see.
"We already have 12 handed back to us and we started giving them out Saturday," City Transit Supervisor Kathy M. Webster said Monday. "That's a good start."
The survey is being distributed on buses and at city businesses following a request by the City Council, which will consider expanding routes farther into the town of Watertown. This includes Wal-Mart on outer Arsenal Street and Washington Street on the city's south side.
CitiBus operates three buses along five 40-minute routes, some of which already reach town businesses like Salmon Run Mall and the Washington Summit medical facility.
Others, like Old Navy, Target and Wal-Mart, are within eyesight of an existing route but are nearly inaccessible for disabled passengers.
The bulk of the surveys returned to Ms. Webster said that patrons use the bus for a multitude of reasons, not just for shopping or work.
"I'm interested to see what times and when they use the buses most often," Ms. Webster said Monday at her Newell Street office. "This will give me an idea of how the service can best fit the area."
Miss Rogers said she rides the bus daily to work and sometimes to the mall.
"It sure beats walking," the 29-year-old said.
Thomas Williams, 20, sat in the back corner of the bus Tuesday staring at the Arsenal Street scenery.
The north-side resident said he uses the bus a few times a week for general transportation. Tuesday, he quietly clutched a book bag before getting off at Price Chopper to do some grocery shopping.
"I like it because it's warm," he said.
Mr. Williams has used public transportation for about a year and is content with the service. Extending hours and routes for those who aren't will be costly.
Extending the operating schedule from 56 hours per week to 75 hours per week, which includes Sundays, would add $252,349 in costs, increasing the operating budget by 38.8 percent to $901,920, according to Ms. Webster's October presentation to the council.
Increasing routes along Arsenal and Washington streets would cost $119,330. The city also would have to purchase another bus and hire at least two full-time employees, she said.
Expanding services wouldn't be a first for the city. In 1997, CitiBus began serving Samaritan Medical Center's complex on outer Washington Street. In June 1995, service was expanded along Arsenal Street, while two routes on the city's north side were combined. Paratransit service, which picks up the disabled at their residences, began operating in 1994.
The latest survey will help the City Council determine whether any changes to the services need to be made.
"We'll set up a database of what kind of requests we've gotten," Ms. Webster said.
The transit supervisor said bus fare is $1 for adults, 75 cents for students and 50 cents for children 7 to 12. Children 6 and younger can ride for free.
"It's affordable transportation and we'll try to keep it that way," Ms. Webster said. "We want to let people know that when the weather is bad, they can depend on the bus."
Arrival times can be checked by calling the bus office at 785-7772.
"I have no problem with people calling and seeing what kind of delay there is," Ms. Webster said.