CITY OF OLEAN
Shared bus system funding is topic
OLEAN — Olean aldermen will discuss Mayor David Carucci’s request to join with Cattaraugus County and St. Bonaventure University for funding of a public bus system during tonight’s City Operations Committee meeting.
The topic and other shared-services proposals were discussed by Carucci, several aldermen and several Olean representatives to the Cattaraugus County Legislature in June. At that time, Carucci pressed for $15,000 to help keep the Olean- Area Transportation System buses going.
In 2007, the county refused to pay its portion of a $213,000 contract for the system, and the Common Council took the lead to keep the scaled-back bus system going. The Legislature supplied $72,000 during 2007.
The bus system has been supported on a limited basis by a reluctant Common Council after its support by the County Legislature was cut, with $29,000 provided from January to May. Later, the Council voted to allow government aid, but Carucci said he hoped to assemble a group of partners to share in the expense.
Legislators have said there would likely be little support to continue county funding because the service was not used by residents to get to work as required for federal funding. Allegany County and St. Bonaventure University provide some transportation through the system.
Alderman Michael Kayes, Ward 2, said Monday the request may be an attempt to coordinate all the bus lines, but he said he did not have any specific details about the mayor’s new proposal.
