WORCESTER � The Worcester Regional Transit Authority will hold a handful of public meetings this summer asking riders what is � and isn't � working in the city's bus system.

The results will be passed along to URS Corp., a California-based engineering, construction and technical services firm that has been hired to do a thorough evaluation of systems for the WRTA and nine other transit authorities in the state.

"This is a good opportunity for each of the RTAs to make the case for what the needs of the system are and what kinds of improvements will help them better serve the public," said Stephen A. Gazillo, a director of transportation planning for URS Corp. "Public input in this is really important. ... We want to get their input throughout every key stage of the process."

Besides the information brought forward by the public, URS will examine existing ridership and service, fare collection methods, environmental policies and areas of economic growth in the city that may require expanded service,

The evaluation was sparked by the state Legislature, which will use the plans to make funding decisions, said Stephen F. O'Neil, administrator for the WRTA. He said the public hearings will take place over the next two months, with about three in the city and two in surrounding towns. The dates for the meetings have not been set.

"What is wrong with service now? What are your ideas, suggestions?" Mr. O'Neil said he wants riders to explain. "If we got more money, what would they like to see that money go towards?"

The evaluation will be laid out in a regional transit plan by June 2015, though Mr. O'Neil said he hopes to have it closer to the beginning of the year.

He expects that URS will come back with a slew of ways to improve service, like interlining routes, adding signs, or even adding bus lanes on city streets to improve on-time performance.

After the WRTA relocated its hub from the front of City Hall to a new $16.3 million facility next to Union Station last year, "we're more data driven than we ever have been," Mr. O'Neil said. "At the very least, it's going to be a platform to combine data with independent thinking from the consultant."

Worcester's transit authority last had an independent company take a look at its operations and make suggestions about a decade ago. However, during a WRTA advisory board meeting last month, chairman William J. Lehtola, who represents Spencer, expressed a level of skepticism.

"We expected some grand changes," he said, but the authority was told it had a "solid system" and was given a few recommendations, which were implemented and were ultimately unsuccessful.

"It does not necessarily mean we're going to have a complete 180" in service, he told the board.

Contact Alli Knothe at allison.knothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA