Aaron Ham doesn't know what he's going to do come April 24.
That's when Metro Area Transit's Route 17 bus will make its last stop in front of the former Southroads Mall in Bellevue. It's one of a handful of changes coming to MAT bus service.
Linda Barritt, a MAT spokeswoman, said the Route 17 service between Metro Community College in south Omaha and the Southroads is being discontinued. She said it will be the first time in about 35 years that Bellevue riders won't have fixed service across county lines.
“We talked to Bellevue (officials), and they felt the ridership just isn't there right now,” Barritt said. “There are very few trips taken on that route.”
Gary Troutman, Bellevue's city administrator, was unavailable to comment Thursday. The City of Bellevue contracts with MAT to provide bus service.
Ham, a 34-year-old Bellevue resident, said he relies on Route 17 daily to get him to his classes at Metro and to run errands. He's epileptic and can't drive.
“This definitely upsets me,” he said. “I do need the bus to get around.
“It's not a busy route by any means, but it's a necessary one.”
Barritt said Ham could use Route 95, an express route that runs between downtown Omaha and Bellevue, making stops near the Southroads. However, it runs only during the early-morning and after-work rush hours. Route 17 stops at the Southroads every hour.
Barritt said MAT is working to have Route 95 include stops at Metro to give riders more options.
Ham has sent a letter voicing his concerns to the Bellevue City Council. He hopes council members see the need for Route 17.
Meanwhile, not all bus riders are going to be displeased with the upcoming changes. MAT also plans changes to some routes that will make crossing Omaha quicker and easier.
Here are those changes, effective April 25:
ŸRoutes 3 and 5, which Barritt called the most significant changes, will offer riders “a straight shot from north Omaha to south Omaha without having to transfer, but also provides connections for multidirectional travel.” Barritt said this will be convenient for riders who want to go farther without transferring.
“It's kind of like taking out the middle man,” she said. “There hasn't been a route like that in the MAT system for close to 20 years.”
ŸRoute 25 will be “filling up a gap” by serving areas no longer covered because of changes to Route 3.
ŸRoute 32/40 becomes Route 32. One of the improvements is weekday, midday service to Westgate in both directions between 72nd and Spring Streets and Bergan Mercy Medical Center. During weekday peak hours, Route 32 service will follow the Westgate and 72nd Street routes to and from Bergan Mercy. Segments of Route 40 will be covered with changes to Routes 3, 7, 9 and 17.
ŸThe gap between Route 13 Sunday service buses will shrink to 90 minutes from two hours.
Ÿ Route 9 will now serve Omaha's VA Medical Center near 42nd and Center Streets.
Ÿ Routes 1, 7 and 8 will have minor changes.
New schedules with maps will be available online at www.metroareatransit.com on April 1.
Contact the writer:
444-1336, leia.mendoza@owh.com
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