Centro Bus Hub

File photo: Buses pull out of the new Centro bus hub onto Warren Street after dropping off and picking up passengers, Thursday, November 29, 2012, around noon. Ellen M. Blalock / The Post-Standard

(Ellen M. Blalock)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Centro's unlimited 30- and 7-day passes will likely end this spring as part of the bus authority's mix of proposed service cuts and changes to shore up a $4.5 million budget hole.

Instead, riders would be able to buy new 20- or 30-ride passes, Centro's executive director, Frank Kobliski, said today. The unlimited pass option would likely happen in mid-May, he said.

Layoffs are also under consideration by Centro as the bus authority faces at least seven years of nearly flat revenues while healthcare and operational costs continue to rise, according to Kobliski.

Centro is proposing route consolidations, late-night service eliminations and ending many Sunday services across its four-county system. (See below for details.)

All of the proposed changes remain preliminary. Centro's board will likely take a budget vote on March 27.

Until then, Centro officials are meeting with state leaders to lobby for more help from New York to pay for the bus system. Kobliski and his staff are also looking for more savings to avoid severe changes. And Centro is asking for public response to the proposals. Public meetings will be held next month.

If Centro does cut service or staff, no service changes would occur until mid-May at the earliest, Kobliski said.

Centro Executive Director Frank Kobliski, center, talks about the transit authority's $4.5 million budget shortfall in Syracuse, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. With Kobliski are Chief Administrative Officer Rick Lee, left, and Marketing and Communications Director Steve Koegel.

The changes to the unlimited passes would affect riders in all four counties: Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Oneida.

Right now, riders can buy a 30-day unlimited ride pass in the Syracuse area for $60. A seven-day unlimited pass for the same routes costs $15. The unlimited passes are transferable, meaning the person who buys one can pass it along to other riders with no additional charge.

"It becomes a family pass," Kobliski said. "Some people are just flat-out taking advantage of us and we can't afford that."

The bus authority sells about 5,500 7-day passes per month and about 1,800 30-day passes per month.

Centro is not considering raising the basic $2 cash fare rate or changes to the cost of Call-A-Bus services.

Worried about Centro's proposals? Here's what you can do.



Other changes under consideration include:

Syracuse and Onondaga County



Ending late, weeknight service. Last departures from the Syracuse Hub would be at 9 p.m. with routes completed by 10 p.m.

Ending late service on Saturdays. Last departures from the Syracuse Hub would be at 6:20 p.m. with routes completed by 7:30 p.m.

Ending all Sunday and holiday service.

Ending midday service on 82 Baldwinsville and 462 Manlius routes.

Ending discounted passes for rides to the New York State Fair.

Re-pricing 10-ride passes.

Ending unlimited ride passes.

Auburn

Ending service after 7 p.m. on weeknights.

Ending Sunday service between Auburn and Syracuse.

Eliminating all Route 5 Lake and Oswaco service.

Oswego and Fulton

Consolidate Mexico and Fulton services.

Reduce frequency of service in Fulton and eliminate all Saturday service in Fulton.

End Sunday service between Oswego and Fulton with Syracuse.

Utica

Reduce frequency of weekday service on most routes.

Last buses would leave the Utica Hub at 9 p.m.

Contact Teri Weaver anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2274