KATS officials met Friday to discuss the effect of the rising gasoline prices on the transit service. Charla Sloan, KATS transit director, said they decided that in Sequoyah County, they will cut back on the number of trips outside Sallisaw city limits per day.
Sloan said the buses were traveling to the outer areas of the county, such as Vian and Roland, three times a day, but Friday they decided to cut back to one to two times a day. There are currently 12 buses that serve Sequoyah County from the service's Sallisaw location.
Sloan said the staff is trying to not increase the price for a ride. Bus riders pay $1 per ride in the city, and outside the city, prices vary, she said.
Prior to the most recent increase, the cost KATS paid per month for gas was $35,000 for its entire bus fleet, which includes the operation of 136 vehicles in nine counties. Sloan said now they are paying between $65,000 and $70,000 for fuel per month.
Sloan said the buses use unleaded gasoline, and only get six to seven miles per gallon in the city and about eight miles per gallon outside the city.
"These buses get poor gas mileage," Sloan said.
She said the service is trying to cut out trips that have low ridership right now and decrease trips to lower use areas while continuing to provide the service they have always provided. At the same time, they are trying to make full usage of the vehicles in the fleet, she said.
"We've been able to bite the bullet for a while," Sloan said.
Sloan said they know people have enough to worry about, with the rising cost of other items, and they are trying to keep prices the same. But she said they don't know if they can keep that up.
"We're doing the best we can," Sloan said.
She said they are looking at each KATS office and trying to cut down on some services with low ridership.
"It's pretty difficult," Sloan said of coping with the rising prices.
For Sequoyah County, Sloan said they are hopeful that cutting down to one to two trips each day to the outer areas of the county will help.
"We're waiting and seeing," Sloan said.
She said if the price gets to $3 per gallon, they will have to look at a lot of other areas. She said if they cut back, they will cut back on routes first.
"I don't know where it's going to end," Sloan said of the prices.
She said they want to see if the current prices are as bad as they are going to get, but she thought prices would level out at $2 per gallon.
"I'm sure this is going to affect police, fire departments, schools," Sloan said. "It's impacting everyone."
Like many, Sloan said she can't see a reason behind the continued increase.
"This fuel is unbelievable," Sloan said.
