SB Transpo holds first of two Open Houses concerning proposed changes and reductions

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Today in Mishawaka, the South Bend Public Transportation Department (Transpo) hosted an open house to discuss proposed service changes due to funding challenges.

According to records, over the past three years, transpo expenses have risen by over 4%, while revenue has remained stagnant. Key cost increases include wages, benefits, vehicle insurance, and maintenance. The Open House was to address both service reductions and improvements, particularly on routes seven (Notre Dame, UP Mall, Mishawaka) and fifteen (UP Mall, Mishawaka) and to ensure reliability and adherence to schedules.

Preliminary route changes are available in PDF form below, or online, where residents and riders can still voice their opinions, with final decisions pending.

Chris Kubaszak, GM/CEO of SB Transpo told ABC57:

"...As part of the requirement from the Federal Trade Administration, we have to have open houses when we're making service changes. So, this meeting is the first of two that we're having, where we're inviting the public to come and have a discussion, look at the suggested changes, and offer their input on those changes before we make them final later this year.

Part of this meeting does discuss elimination of routes and also discusses changes... If you go online, (there is an) introduction to all the stuff that is going to be changed, so (you) can look at it, the route times, and that have not been finalized yet.

But if you come to one of the open houses, you will be able to see a preliminary route change times, and also which routes (might be) changed."

The second South Bend Public Transportation (Transpo) open house for community input on proposed route changes is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Classroom D at the St. Joseph County Public Library.