July 4th Closure

CityBus will not operate and all offices will be closed on Monday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. CityBus will operate the regular schedule on Sunday and Tuesday, the days prior to and after the holiday.

CityBus wind turbines going up

CityBus erected the first of three wind turbines today. The transit agency is building three wind turbines at its administration, storage, and maintenance facilities on Canal Rd. in Lafayette. The other two will be erected early next week and the turbines should begin operating in mid July.

Martin Sennett, CityBus general manager, said the wind turbines will generate about half of the electricity needed to power the facilities which will help offset power produced by fossil fuels. “Diverting from fossil fuels to renewable wind energy could save nearly 500 tons of carbon emissions each year,” said Sennett.

Other benefits include reducing operating expenses by lowering the cost of purchased energy, along with the potential of increasing revenue through the sale of Renewable Energy Credits (REC), said Sennett.

The $1.8 million project is funded by federal stimulus funds in a program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transit providers. CityBus was one of 49 agencies in the nation awarded such grants in 2009. Sennett anticipates that the cost savings and revenue from REC sales will pay for the turbines in about six years.

The wind turbines, Northern Power 100 models produced by Northern Power Systems, are being installed by Cascade Renewable Energy, a division of Cascade Engineering, Inc. headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The turbines are 155-feet tall from base to blade tip, with a hub at 121-feet. Sennett said these are larger than residential-grade turbines but much smaller than utility-grade turbines like those used in rural areas.

Sennett said he believes CityBus is the first transit system in the United States using renewable wind energy to power its facilities. He said many transit systems, including CityBus, are taking measures to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by using hybrid buses. Yet most transit systems still purchase energy from providers that produce it from fossil fuels.

CityBus’s project is a leading demonstration of the possibility to have facilities powered by a renewable source, produced on site.

The results will be known only with time and experience, said Sennett. “We’ll begin to know how much energy and carbon emissions we are saving after a full year of use.”

Dump the Pump 2011 a Success

Passengers rode CityBus 11,430 times on Thursday, June 16 when CityBus celebrated "Dump the Pump." Ridership topped performance in previous years by almost 1,700 rides. In 2010, riders rode 9,722 times and in 7,409 times in 2009.

CityBus offered free rides as a day to recognize the cost savings and other benefits of using public transportation over driving in cars. Dump the Pump is a national day of recognition coordinated by the American Public Transportation Association.

Taste of Tippecanoe Detours Saturday

"Taste of Tippecanoe" will cause significant detours in the downtown area on Saturday, June 18th. The customer service office in Riehle Plaza will be closed on Saturday after 4PM. Buses will detour as follows.

TRANSFER CENTER:
Buses will hold on Third St. between North and Cincinnati. 1B, 4B, 4A, and 5 will hold between North & Brown, 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 6A, 6B, 7 will hold between Cincinnati & North.

TROLLEY:
In the morning, when the Farmers’ Market is open, trolleys will turn from Main left on 6th, right on Columbia, and resume route at 2nd and Columbia. Tour the Town Tours will depart from Columbia and 5th St. instead of Main and 5th.

After the Farmer’s Market closes and traffic on 5th St. reopens, trolleys will turn from Main St. left on 5th, right on Columbia, resume route at 2nd.

In West Lafayette, trolleys will bypass Tapawingo, Brown, and Roebuck due to street closures. East- and West-bound trolleys will follow State St.

1A MARKET SQUARE:
Inbound evening bus will follow Ferry St. to downtown instead of Main St.

1B SALISBURY:
The outbound bus will turn left on North, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market in open), right on Columbia, resume route at 2nd. Inbound bus will turn left on River Rd. from State St., right on the ramp to the Harrison Bridge, cross river, exit right on Third St.

3A LAFAYETTE SQUARE:
Outbound bus will turn left on Ferry, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market open), left on South. Inbound bus will turn right at 5th from Main, left on Ferry, resume route.

4A TIPPECANOE MALL:
Outbound bus will turn left on Ferry, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market open), left on South. Inbound bus will turn right on 5th from Columbia, left on Ferry, resume route at 4th.

4B PURDUE WEST:
The outbound bus will turn left on Ferry, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market operating), right on Columbia, resume route at 2nd.

6A FOURTH ST.:
Outbound bus will turn left on Ferry, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market open), right on Columbia, left on 3rd. Inbound bus will turn right from 4th on South, left at 5th, left at Ferry, resume route at 4th.

6B S. 18TH ST:
Outbound bus will turn left on Ferry, right on 5th (6th while Farmer's Market open), left on South. Inbound bus will follow 9th St. to left on Ferry St.

Dump the Pump: Free Rides Thursday June 16

CityBus invites the community to try public transportation with free rides all day Thursday, June 16.

“‘Dump the Pump’ Day is all about the positive benefits of leaving your car at home and using CityBus instead,” said John Metzinger, CityBus manager of development.

“By giving free rides, we’re highlighting the economic positives of using CityBus, especially the savings riders will realize,” Metzinger said. “The national average savings of using public transit instead of owning a car is $10,230 a year. That’s $853 a month in savings available to those who choose to ride CityBus instead of driving.”

“If you’re already a daily rider, this free day is a thank-you,” Metzinger said. “If you usually drive a car for your daily commute, we invite you to take a free ride on Dump the Pump day to experience the full benefits of using CityBus.”

Dump the Pump is a nationwide campaign coordinated by the American Public Transportation Association. Many cities across the U.S. are participating this year.

CityBus route information is available at www.gocitybus.com or (765) 742-RIDE, and travel training is available to help new riders learn how to use CityBus.

CityBus meetings to discuss route changes

CityBus has scheduled public hearings to review proposed changes to two bus routes and to take comments from riders and the general public. Changes to routes 3A Lafayette Square and the Wabash Trolley Line are being considered.

Meetings will be held Friday, June 10 at 11:00AM and 5:30PM at CityBus, 1250 Canal Rd., Lafayette.

CityBus is proposing discontinuation of late night weekday service on route 3A Lafayette Square. The proposal would discontinue trips departing downtown at 9:45PM, 10:45PM, and 11:45PM. Late night services operated by other routes are not affected by this proposal. General Manager Martin Sennett says low ridership and growing costs are reasons for the change.

CityBus also proposes to improve the trolley’s service to Ivy Tech’s new location in downtown Lafayette. Ivy Tech is opening new classroom facilities in August at Renaissance Place at Main and 3rd streets. This proposal will also improve access to CityBus’s downtown transfer center at Riehle Plaza for riders who wish to connect with routes serving other areas of the city.

Also proposed is discontinuation of trolley service to Williams and Grant streets in West Lafayette to improve the trolley’s on-time performance. Williams and Grant streets will continue to be served by route 5 Happy Hollow/Northwestern.

Detailed proposals are available at http://www.gocitybus.com/publichearingjune2011.html. Comments may be forwarded to CityBus’ development manager by calling (765) 423-2666, or writing to CityBus, P.O. Box 588, Lafayette, IN 47902.