The Blair Rides regular route service in Northern Blair County is coming to an end today after a two-year trial run.
The service provided transportation at regular stops in both Bellwood and the Tyrone area. The effort was a joint collaboration between Amtran and Blair Senior Services.
Tom Klevan of Amtran said the money to fund the effort came from “a special pot of money” to fund what he called “demonstration projects.” He said the funding is not a permanent amount of money, but is available from state transportation money to fund a project for a period of two years and in some cases longer.
The money is provided to transportation agencies with the intent of proving if a project is viable and with the understanding that more permanent funding would need to be used to continue the service.
Klevan said the main reason the service is ending is because of a lack of ridership and therefore, revenue. He said the project went ahead because there had been hope that the legislature would approve additional funding for transportation agencies. Klevan said that hasn’t happened.
Blair Senior Services will continue to provide individual transportation for qualifying northern Blair residents. Anyone with questions may call the Blair Senior Services transportation center at 814-695-3500 or 1-800-458-5552.
