Authorities review Bridge Bus schedule for 'efficiencies'

Less than two weeks after International Bridge officials backed down on a plan to have the Bridge Bus accept only U.S. currency, there's word the bus's schedule will be reviewed in a bid to find further cost savings.

Currently, the Bridge Bus runs Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. It also operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

"It is crucial that bus schedules be reviewed for efficiencies in light of ridership that has declined from 35,000 in 1998 to 17,700 in 2001," says bridge manager Phillip Becker in a letter sent last week to Spencer Nebel, city manager in Sault, Michigan.

"The Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA) has directed me to work with [the Bridge Bus operator] to survey bus users in an effort to identify core needs," Becker said.

"The survey results will then be studied to identify schedule revisions and other cost-cutting measures."

$13,000 in fares, $121,000 in costs

Becker says Bridge Bus fares cover only $13,000 of the bus's $121,000 operating budget (all dollars quoted in this article are U.S. unless otherwise indicated).

It's expected that $40,000 of this year's budget will be subsidized by bridge toll revenue.

Over the past decade, Becker says, the Bridge Bus has received more than $20,000 in toll subsidies, and that now must change.

Determined to eliminate subsidies

"JIBA has directed me to work with the operator to develop a budget plan to eliminate bridge revenue subsidy through alternative subsidy, bus fare and schedule revisions," he says.

Becker also denied a recent suggestion from Nebel that JIBA has a legal responsibility to continue to operate the Bridge Bus.

"JIBA does have the authority ... to provide a bridge bus and may do so if they choose, but they are not obligated to do so," Becker said.

He points out that a Michigan Department of Transportation legal advisor who helped draft the international agreement under which the bridge operates agrees with this interpretation.

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