Expansions, route changes proposed

CityBus is preparing to expand service to help transit riders get to jobs late at night. New service is planned to Clarian-Arnett Hospital on the east side of Lafayette. Other changes will help buses arrive downtown on time for transfers to improve overall service quality.

CityBus has applied for Federal financial assistance through a program called Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC). (See information about JARC.) If JARC assistance is secured, expanded service could begin on Monday, August 17, 2009.

CityBus must apply for JARC assistance each year. This means if funding is not secured at some point in the future, expansions may be cut back to current service levels. It is important for transit users, community leaders, employers, and other stakeholders to understand that JARC-funded service expansions should be considered temporary.

The proposals are available for review here: http://www.gocitybus.com/proposals2009.html

CityBus welcomes your comments about the proposals. Submit your comments by using our comment form, or mail to: Development Manager, CityBus, P.O. Box 588, Lafayette, IN 47902. You can also submit comments or questions by calling the Development Manager at (765) 423-2666.

Detours and Summer Service

Summertime means two things at CityBus; dodging construction and summer service changes on many routes. Riders should be aware of the following:

Construction Detours and Events

• Resurfacing along U.S. 52 West east of Klondike Rd. is impacting route 4B Purdue West/Klondike. CityBus may be unable to serve some stops during this project, which is expected to continue into November.
  
• Ind. 26 construction means route 7 St. Rd. 26 E. will be unable to serve stops along the highway between Park East Blvd. and Frontage Rd.
  
• Co Rd. 350 S. lane closures mean route 6B S. 18th St. is unable to serve stops along both the north and south sides of the road. Passengers should board or exit these buses along S. 18th St., or at Wal-mart.
  
• The Wabash Trolley Line is detouring in two places. At Main and 3rd, vehicles are turning left on 3rd, right on Columbia and resuming the westbound route. Stops at Main and 3rd and Main and 2nd St. (at Lafayette Savings Bank) are not being served. On campus, the trolley is not serving First St. but is instead detouring from MacArthur to right on Third, right on N. Martin Jischke, resuming the route at State St.
  
• Buses will detour downtown for special events like Taste of Tippecanoe, Dancing in the Streets, Mosey Down Main St., and others. Watch for details.
  
• Updates are available on the CityBus web site and Facebook. Or, subscribe for updates by e-mail by sending a message to CityBusClub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
  

Summer Service

Summer service operates Monday, May 11th through Sunday, August 23rd.

• Campus Loops will not operate during Summer.
  
• 4B Purdue West/Downtown will serve Purdue Village on inbound trips.Inbound stops on State St. between Airport Rd. and S. Martin Jischke Dr. will not be served.
  
• 5 Happy Hollow will operate with reduced trips during the mid-day (see schedule).
  
• 8 Klondike Express will not operate.
  
• Wabash Trolley Line will run every 15 minutes as follows, route will follow the “Black Line:”
  7:32AM to 5:35PM Monday through Thursday
  7:32AM to 9:05PM Friday
  10:02AM to 4:53PM Saturday
  
• Holidays: CityBus will not operate on Memorial Day (Mon., May 25) or Independence Day (Sat., July 4).

Riehle Plaza improvements planned

The needs have been identified, the site has been studied and a conceptual plan readied to improve CityBus transfers at Riehle Plaza, add a public park and perhaps create new space for Ivy Tech Community College.

Funding is the next step, then construction, with work possibly beginning yet this year or next, says CityBus General Manager Martin Sennett. Completion is two to three years away.

North of Riehle Plaza
An area north of Riehle Plaza has been chosen for construction of a 13-space, saw-tooth, parking shelter with a roof that will provide protection from bad weather. Riders will benefit because transfers will be easier and quicker and schedules more reliable. The plan also incorporates improvements for people with disabilities.

Each route will have an assigned space, so riders always know where to go to get the bus they want.

More Green Space
The area will be enhanced with tree plantings and a public park space. “It will be much more attractive than our current transit hub, and built to blend with Riehle Plaza,” Sennett says.

Education, Too
Another aspect being pursued is a new building, with tenant space of up to 20,000 square feet for use by Ivy Tech Community College. It would house classrooms and the college’s workforce/economic development activities, says Ivy Tech Chancellor David Bathe.

“We would like to better serve the downtown community—people who live in the area, the business community and Purdue students who commute between campuses,” Bathe says.

It would be more convenient for many Ivy Tech students and prospective students, he says. “I think it’s a really exciting partnership between Ivy Tech and CityBus, and it would alleviate some of the space issues we’re now having with parking and classrooms on our main campus.”

The transfer center plan was developed for CityBus by Orlando-headquartered Glatting, Jackson, Kercher, Anglin.

See the planning documents here:

• Executive Summary (PDF Format)
• Project Summary (PDF Format)
• Proposed Transfer Center (PDF Format)
• Redevelopment Plan (PDF Format)

Bus stops not available along 350 S.

Work is underway on Co. Rd. 350 S. to widen the highway. During construction, bus stops along both sides of the streets, south and north, are not accessible to CityBus. Passengers should wait for buses along S. 18th St., Promenade, Wal-Mart, or Concord Rd. during construction.

CityBus regrets any inconvenience caused to our passengers.

Detour at Purdue Airport

Beginning Monday, April 20, CityBus will not be able to pick up passengers in front of the terminal at the Purdue Airport, due to construction of the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building. Buses will instead utilize the Student Lot north of the railroad tracks on the east side of Airport Road for drop off and pick up. This change will last for a 14-17 day period so that crews can remove the pavement just south of the railroad tracks and install new pavement.

Easter Sunday

CityBus will not operate on Sunday, April 12, for Easter. All offices will also be closed.

Regular schedules will be in effect (all buses operating their usual schedules) on Good Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11.

Service will resume on Monday, April 13. Happy Easter!