Jump Around Carson bus service is changing its schedule to Virginia City from Wednesdays to Saturdays - just in time for the annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival and St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The Virginia City Express, which provided four round trips to the Comstock every Wednesday, is dropping the Wednesday runs in favor of a Saturday schedule at the request of Storey County, said Carson City Transportation Manager Patrick Pittenger.
Saturday seemed to be a better choice to boost ridership and increase tourism, said Austin Osborne, senior planner for Storey County.
"Part of the reason we asked for this change is because our people have requested it," he said. "This makes Carson City more accessible to our citizens, and people from Carson City can come up for a nice day and not have to worry about driving or parking."
Fares remain the same - $4 one way, but discounts are available to seniors, people with a Medicaid card, children and the disabled.
The round-trip bus leaves from the transfer station on Plaza Street in Carson City at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with stops at the Gold Dust West, the V&T train station, the Virginia City senior center and the Delta Saloon parking lot.
Service to parts of Lyon County is not yet available, Pittenger said.
"Lyon periodically expresses an interest, but it's hard to come up with the dollars with budgets so tight," he said.
Funding for the service came from a state grant using tobacco settlement money.