No weekend, nighttime runs planned for the 'Rabbit'

GAINESVILLE - With their last public hearing held Thursday on a new transit expansion plan Hall Area Transit officials learned this week bus riders are pleased with added routes and first time destinations for the 'Red Rabbit', but it will remain a week day, day time only service.

People said they want bilingual drivers, earlier and later daily running hours, and weekend bus service, but that's still to come for Gainesville Hall transit riders according to Community Service Center Director Phillippa Lewis Moss.

"It would increase operating costs significantly," Moss said. "I hope to see it sometime in the future but it probably won't happen within the next couple of years."

Moss said what would be happening beginning in January is first time service to Gainesville State College, the State Labor Department, Brenau University and the Featherbone Communiversity.

"This will be the Year of the Student," Moss said. "Going to Brenau, going to Gainesville State and going to the Communiversity has been a very big win."

According to Moss Gainesville State College is picking up the tab to allow students to ride free around campus, enabling them to catch the bus and park at the Park and Ride near the college on Thurman Tanner Parkway.

"The College is actually going to pick up that cost, so good for the students and good for Red Rabbit," Moss said.

Moss said the one-time cost of purchasing additional buses is $600,000, ninety-five percent of which will be paid for with federal and state grants.