Higher Fuel Costs Squeeze Bus Agency
Rising fuel prices might put the west county’s bus service $185,000 over budget by June, the end of the current fiscal year.
The budget squeeze is largely a result of price hikes for the compressed natural gas that South Coast Area Transit uses to fuel 35 of its 43 buses.
Fuel prices have risen by $19,431 to $42,811 in one year, said Peter Drake, the general manager for SCAT. The agency provides 3.7 million rides a year.
To save money, the agency may consider cutting back on its marketing efforts. However, no service will be cut and fares will not go up, Drake said.
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