The TCAT Board of Directors at its regularly scheduled board meeting on Thurs., April 25, voted to prolong the suspension of routes 14S (West Hill Shopper) and 83 (Campus and Highland Rd. area), both of which have been on pause indefinitely since October due to chronic driver and bus shortages.
The vote came after 30-day public comment period and a public hearing Wed., April 17, which was held both virtually and in person at TCAT. The proposal to continue the route 83 suspension drew no comments. However, four West Hill residents and the son of a senior citizen who lives there said putting the brakes on the 14S has caused hardships.
The route 14S shopper route first launched in 2018 as an added convenience to West Hill riders.
Board members and TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom-Jones said they fully sympathize with 14S riders and said the agency will strive to restore the service on that route as well as others that have been reduced over the past four years with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 14S, first launched as a pilot in 2018, provided one-seat ride service to southwest shopping areas to include Wegmans and Walmart, most recently with four inbound and five outbound daily trips seven days a week.
West Hill riders are still served by the regular route 14 with 15 daily trips on weekdays and seven daily trips on both Saturdays and Sundays. However, to travel to shopping centers, including those in the city’s southwest, they must transfer on to other routes downtown. Riders who offered feedback said this poses a hardship as they have to walk between Green St. Station and Seneca St. Station while carrying their groceries. And, then they may have a long wait for a second bus to complete their trip.
TCAT halted both routes temporarily effective Oct. 22, 2023, as part of series of pandemic-related service adjustments TCAT has been making since March of 2020, in response to chronic staffing shortages and lack of enough road-ready buses. TCAT is continuing to address these problems by emphasizing recruitment and by implementing new maintenance procedures. The TCAT Board recently agreed to the purchase of five diesel buses, which are expected to arrive early next year.
When forced to reduce service, TCAT planners strive to ensure there is no disparate impact to underserved neighborhoods and to provide alternatives, though not as convenient, for impacted riders. Route 14 riders can also transfer to the route 67 for southwest shopping and to other routes serving retailers elsewhere in the service area. Route 83 riders have been advised to use other routes, such as the 10 for West Campus and 31, for the Highland Ave. and Cayuga Heights area.
According to TCAT’s service reduction policy, the suspension of both routes 14S and 83 are considered “major” service reductions – or those that amount to 20 percent or more of a service cut – to a distinct geographical area. The policy does allow for major cuts on a “temporary” basis, but not to exceed 180 days and only if they are caused by circumstances outside the agency’s control. Public comments regarding service supsension of route 14S and 83 are posted here.