Newton Independent
Jasper County's new public transit agency is rolling out a new paint scheme on its buses, as well as significantly dropping the price of a ride.
Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) assumed leadership of Jasper County's public transportation system effective Oct. 1.
HIRTA is the public transit provider for the Iowa Department of Transportation's Region 11, a seven-county area in central Iowa that includes Jasper, Boone, Dallas, Madison, Marion, Story and Warren counties. Its services are open to the public and available to anyone. Rides are provided door-to-door on a demand-response, 24 hours in scheduled advance basis.
HIRTA assumed the operation of the Jasper County system from Heartland Senior Services in Ames, one of its transportation subcontractors.
Brooke Ramsey, assistant to the HIRTA director, said the new fare schedule is designed to induce ridership, which is open to anyone within the county.
Under the new rate plan, rides within Newton now cost just $2 one-way, a significant reduction from the previous $5.75 fee. Rides within Jasper County are $4 one-way. Seniors 60 and over have suggested donations of $1 in Newton and $2 within the county.
"We dropped the fares to a rate that we feel are reasonable and will also allow the service to be accessible to all," Ramsey said.
Ramsey said HIRTA plans to bring a number of new ridership options to Newton and Jasper County residents in the near future. Plans call for such things as fixed fee scheduled trips to Des Moines-area malls and transportation service to special events in the capitol city. More details on those programs are expected to be released shortly, she said.
She also stressed that ridership is open to anyone.
"Our early focus will be to get the public to understand that the service is open to anyone," she said. "There are no restrictions on age, income or disability."
Another option for riders is the purchase of coupon booklets. For $10, riders will receive ridership coupons that total $11 in bus tickets.
Hours of public transit services in Newton and Jasper County are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend service is available in Newton from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
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