Editorial

Getting aboard

On May 31, 1969, buses last rolled through Cape Girardeau picking up passengers. A lack of passengers led to the demise of the bus service, which had operated for 28 years. The privately owned Cape Transit Co. cut service to reduce expenses but was operating at a loss of $10,000 to $15,000 per year. The city declined to buy the bus line from the company or to subsidize its service.

In the intervening 37 years, a lack of public transportation has grown to be viewed as Cape Girardeau's major flaw.

That's the past. At 6 a.m. today, the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority begins operating a new fixed-route bus system in the city. The buses replace the taxi coupon program that was subsidized by the city.

Two buses seating 12 passengers will run through downtown Cape Girardeau, west to the city's newer shopping and medical facilities and loop through the residential areas on the city's south side. The 40-minute route has 27 stops.

Service will be provided from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The cost is $1.50 per ride, reduced to 75 cents for seniors and people with disabilities. Day passes and monthly passes are available.

Transit authority executive director Jeff Brune has called today a "baby step" toward achieving a system that will meet the public's transportation needs. Let's begin.

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