SIMI VALLEY : City Seeks Grant for Lagging Bus System

The Simi Valley City Council has decided to ask for federal funds to continue operating its bus system despite low ridership and the high cost to the city of maintaining the system.

The council on Monday approved an application for a $495,250 grant from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.

The city is required to match the grant with its own money.

The remainder of the $1.2-million annual operating budget for the city’s bus system would come from fare revenues.

Council members and residents expressed concerns before the vote that ridership this year--estimated to be about 300,000--dropped about 4% from last year and has been steadily declining since 1986.

Last year’s drop in passengers is attributed in part to an increase in the fare from 50 cents to 75 cents in February, 1989.

Resident Steve Frank suggested that the city use smaller buses or work with a private company to find a more efficient means of operating its transit system, which includes a fleet of nine buses.

City officials, however, said studies of both proposals have shown that neither would be effective in reducing operating costs.

However, Ray Turpin, a city transit administrator, said new marketing strategies and the adoption of new bus routes are expected to increase bus ridership during the next two years.

Councilman Glen McAdoo and his colleagues said that despite the high cost of operating the bus system the city has a responsibility to provide public transportation.

McAdoo said the city’s goal is to increase ridership to reduce pollution and traffic in Simi Valley.