By MATT LINDSEY

The number of people using the public bus system in St. Lawrence County continues to increase and become more diverse as Amish, college students, shoppers and the elderly take advantage of the service.

Although ridership is up about 10 percent from last year and people from different walks of life are using the inexpensive service, Jerry M. Filiatrault, director of operations at St. Lawrence NYSARC, which runs the program, says input from more people is needed.

“As more people find out about us, we continue to grow,” he said. “But there are still a lot of people who don't know we are here.”

Filiatrault hopes to solve any issues by inviting anyone with an interest in using public transportation system and those already using it to share their ideas.

“It is important for the public to know that from September through May we hold task force meetings at the operation center and it's a chance for people to give us ideas,” he said.

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month.

“We may have ideas but it might not be what the public feels is needed,” he said. “People can say what they want to see happen…we really want the input and more ideas.”

He said if people cannot attend the meetings they are welcome to offer suggestions to him by calling him at 566-9299.

Riders are using the service to take shopping trips to towns across the county and students are using it to attend classes. Filiatrault says NYSARC is working with hospitals and colleges to see how they can provide more transportation options to the public and grow their ridership.

“The price of fuel dropping hurts us,” he said. “When gas is cheaper people are more willing to us their own vehicles.”

Routes have been added and dropped in an effort to maximize equipment and resources, he said.

“We are concentrating on Ogdensburg, Canton, Massena and Potsdam areas to increase ridership that way,” Filiatrault said.

NYSARC is currently under a three-year agreement to continue the program with about one and half years remaining on the deal. When the deal is up the state, county and NYSARC will work together on a new agreement.

They took over the bus service from the county in March of 2012 after it was shut down due to lack of funding in December 2011.

The state funds the program through a grant, which is sent to the county, which then administers it to NYSARC, according to Filiatrault. “No funding comes from the county,” he said.

Fares from bus runs go toward operating expenses. If fares are down then the grant money is used to keep the program operating.

More information and schedules are at http://www.slnysarc.org/public-transit