Status of city's bus system among topics at transportation panel's meeting

Ridership numbers to see how the city's new bus system, Jump Around Carson, or JAC, has fared during its initial runs, will be available this week.

Status of the city's first fixed-route bus system will be among items discussed at the meeting of the Regional Transportation Commission at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"We're as happy as can be expected," said C. Michael Dulude, city transit planner. "It takes two to three years to fully realize how successful a service will be."

Three months of operation don't allow enough time for a bus line's long-term viability to be determined, he said. Within that short of an amount of time, "you can't make that call," Dulude emphasized.

In October, the first month of operation, about 4,000 people rode the bus during the free trial period. In November, more than 3,100 paid the $1 charge.

"Overall, people are accepting the service and ridership appears to be growing," Dulude said. "That's what we're looking for."

For example, even with the crummy weather during the New Year's weekend, one person called Dec. 31 to see if the line was running, he said.

JAC didn't run that day because of the flooding.

Other topics to be heard by members of the Regional Transportation Commission:

• Discussion of the flood's effect on city streets and highways

• Decision on whether to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the "ultimate" landscape design concepts for the freeway.

• Discussion of current RTC projects

• Proposed amendments to the 2005 Carson Area Regional Transportation Plan and 2006-2008 Transportation Improvement Plans regarding the Carson City freeway, with the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

If you go

What: Regional Transportation Commission

When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 William St.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.