ELYRIA — The Cleveland Commuter Service started Monday with a lot of empty seats.
There were just 15 riders on all of the morning runs from Elyria and Sheffield Township to Cleveland’s Public Square and back, according to Pam Novak, Lorain County Transit’s chief financial officer.
Only one or two people riding the bus in the morning said they were going to the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cleveland, she said.
“The majority today were commuters,” Novak said.
The bus to Cleveland costs $3.65 a trip and an all-day pass costs $7.25.
The buses depart six times a day from two locations: the Lorain County Transportation Center, 40 East Ave., Elyria, and the Lorain County Board of Elections, 1985 North Ridge Road, Sheffield Township.
The departure times from the Transportation Center are 5:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m, 9:45 a.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
The departure times from the Board of Elections are 5:55 a.m., 7:55 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 3:55 p.m., 5:55 p.m. and 7:55 p.m.
Returning to Lorain County from Public Square, the departure times are 6:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
County Administrator James Cordes said each bus holds 22 people, and the county needs 10 to 12 riders on a bus to break even.
Cordes estimated it would cost between $30,000 and $50,000 to do a six-month trial run of buses, but he said fares and selling advertising on the buses will offset some or all of those costs.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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