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Beginning Sept. 2, Red Rose Transit Authority will offer 25-cent rides for the entire month on all RRTA bus routes.
Dave Kilmer, RRTA's executive director, unveiled the promotion Wednesday.
"We want the community to have a chance to try RRTA as a part of their daily commute and give people breaks," he said. "With gas prices fluctuating between $3.50 and $4, who knows what next month will bring?"
On Wednesday, Kilmer and Congressman Joe Pitts stood outside the RRTA headquarters with a veiled easel.
Moments before Kilmer's announcement, he pulled the draping away to reveal a manhole-sized quarter — a manhole-sized Pennsylvania quarter, to be exact.
Kilmer said the special promotion was possible because of Pitts, who was instrumental in restoring federal operating assistance for RRTA this year.
"You led the charge," Kilmer told Pitts.
For years, the congressman supported a recently passed bill that allows small transit authorities to use federal funds to pay for operating costs.It has been projected that the bill will provide about $1 million for RRTA in the coming fiscal year.
On Wednesday, Pitts commended the RRTA's special promotion.
"I applaud the RRTA for expanding opportunities for the public to use the bus system as an alternative way to get around," he said.
Kilmer said if the promotion is successful, the RRTA could gain about 10 percent in ridership.
"We … wanted to show the positive effects riding public transit can have on the community," Kilmer said.
Customers who ride often during September (and who don't want to carry a pocket full of quarters every day) can purchase a monthly pass for a discounted price of $10.
The price is equivalent to 40 rides at 25 cents. Discounted monthly passes will go on sale starting today. Ten-trip tickets will remain at their normal price through the month of September.
RRTA also will add additional weekday service to some county routes starting Monday. Those additions include:
(466) (68) (64) (44) (31) (30) (20) (10) (2)• Route 10/Lititz: 5:50 p.m.
• Route 11/Ephrata: 5:50 p.m.
• Route 12/New Holland: 5:50 p.m.
• Route 16/Millersville: 6:20 p.m., 7:20 p.m. and 8:20 p.m.
• Route 17/Columbia: Inbound trip at 9:25 p.m.
• Route 18/Elizabethtown: 6:05 p.m.
• Route 19/Manheim: 5:50 p.m.
For more information, call RRTA at 397-4246.
E-mail: cdifonzo@lnpnews.com
