Burns, CamTran reach deal on shared-ride restoration
Service restored to most popular locations in Bedford, Somerset counties
Rep. Frank Burns October 10, 2018 | 11:52 AM
EBENSBURG, Oct. 10 – Noting that the collective voice of upset senior riders has been heard, state Rep. Frank Burns and the Cambria County Transit Authority announced Wednesday that CamTran will restore shared-ride bus service to parts of Bedford and Somerset counties beginning Oct. 15.
The service restoration is the result of a meeting among Burns, D-Cambria, and officials from CamTran and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation held at Burns’ Harrisburg office Sept. 27.
“I was proud to stand with our senior citizens whose relentless passion drove this compromise,” Burns said. “We can never underestimate the determination of our seniors to fight for what they deserve.”
CamTran agreed to restore its Reserve-a-Ride shared-ride service for riders to again travel to the most popular destinations in Bedford and Somerset counties, including the Mountain Playhouse, Flight 93 National Memorial, Coal Miners’ Café, Fisher’s Country Store, and Ridge Top and Boyer orchards.
“As a result of listening to our riders, we took another look at the more popular out-of-county destinations,” said Rose Lucey-Noll, executive director of CamTran. “I was very pleased that we were able to work together to reach a resolution for limited expansion back to the top Reserve-a-Ride out-of-county destinations.”
Earlier this year, CamTran eliminated shared-ride service in all but Cambria and Blair counties in an effort to concentrate service in the areas where agency officials said the majority of its 57,000 annual shared rides went.
The service area change to include parts of Somerset and Bedford comes after months of advocacy by Burns – whose office collected 1,425 signatures on a petition to restore shared-ride service – as well as the impassioned speeches of senior citizens who packed a Cambria County commissioners’ meeting in September to plead for service restoration.
“This is government at its best – listening and being responsive to the needs of the people,” Burns said. “I would also like to thank PennDOT for stepping in to guide our negotiations and help us reach this compromise.”
CamTran is now taking reservations for its shared-ride bus service to northwestern Bedford County on Tuesdays and to northern Somerset County on Thursdays. Shared rides will operate between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
To schedule a shared ride, call CamTran toll free at 1-800-252-3889. Shared rides must be scheduled no later than 2 p.m. the day before the requested ride.
Click here for video of Rep. Burns discussing today's announcement.