'dial-a-ride' Bus Service Prospects Dim

Prospects of iréftituting a "Dial-A-Ride" 1 mental bus service here in the near future have I dimmed considerably in the past two weeks. Although it appears the original proposal for a I "Dial-A-Ride" system in the Model Cities area is a I dead issue, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority I Chairman George Bacalis is still hopeful the con-l cept will eventually be implemented. He views this and other types of experiments as I the only salvation for bus systems. Bacalis told Transportation Authority members I last night that the "program as outlined (by the I Ford Motor Co.) is not going to proceed. . . ." Hel said the Model Cities Policy Board expressed con-l cerns over the proposal. Authority members and city officials doubt al "Dial-A-Ride" service can be implemented here I without outside funding help- such as from the 1 Model Cities program. Bacalis said the Model Cities board plans to draw up another proposal for a "Dial-A-Ride" system "to see if we can structure a program which can move ahead." Í As outlined, the original proposal would have been an eight-week experiment wherein residents of the Model Cities area could have called for doorstep bus service to Veterans Memorial Park and Maple Village Shopping Center. Apparently, Model Cities representatives were not pleased with the destinations of the "Dial-A-Ride" service. One of the keys to implementing a "Dial-ARide" or similar service will be living within the current budget and being able to realize a "surplus." Traffic and Transportation Department Director John E. Robbins was askëd to prepare a budget showing a $10,000 "cushion" without a cut-back in service. This proposed budget was not discussed in detail last night because there were not enough members present to have a quorum. Only three of the seven members were in attendance. Bacalis will be calling a special meeting next week- Monday or Tuesday- to act on the revised budget and to establish fares for school bus service for the coming semester. Bus system manager John Zielinski informed those present there was an eight per cent increase in revenues for July compared to June. Bacalis commented that if the school fares were taken out of the June total, the increase would be about 16 per cent. Revenues for July totaled $13,091, compared to $12,143 for June.