09/21/2008

Associated Press

An increased number in people taking public transportation and traffic congestion are slowing bus trips through the Rogue Valley.

While bus ridership numbers are on the rise, the influx of people using public transportation in Rogue Valley combined with traffic congestion is slowing bus trips in the area.

Round trip bus rides along the valley's Ashland to Medford route are often taking about 30 minutes longer as bus ridership in the valley increase. In the last seven months, the number of people taking the bus has increased by 6.5 percent, said Paige Townsend, senior planner for the Rogue Valley Transportation District.

In the past, a round trip bus ride from Ashland to Medford typically took no more than two hours but since gas prices began rising in February, the same trip can take 2 1/2 hours or longer.

Because of the slowed trips, people can miss their connections at the main Front Street Station in Medford. The station is a hub for buses that go to Ashland, Phoenix, Talent, Jacksonville, White City, Central Point, and some Medford neighborhoods.

"A whole lot of people are having to walk home because they can't make their bus transfer," RVTD General Manager Julie Brown said.

Ashland Public Works Director Mike Faught said he barely made his connection at Medford's Front Street station when he tested the Ashland to Medford route twice with city and RVTD staff members.

"Rider-ship was so high we were stopping at the majority of stops," he said.

Traffic congestion, construction and emergency vehicles also slowed the trip, he said.

One of his trips took two hours and seven minutes, he said, and the other trip took two hours and 40 minutes.

There are other possible factors behind the slowed bus trips. Among them: reduced speed limits.

Ashland and other communities have lowered speed limits on portions of their roads since the bus schedule was last changed in 2004, Townsend said.

To address the issue, the valley's transportation department is looking at places where it can trim service to speed up the bus circuits.

Next spring, valley residents will vote on whether to approve a payroll tax to improve the bus system. The amount of the measure is not yet determined.

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Information from: The Ashland Daily Tidings, http://www.dailytidings.com