HometownGeorgetown.com

The City of Georgetown has announced public meetings to discuss proposed bus service within our city limits.

• Wednesday, January 9 at 2 p.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street
• Wednesday, January 9 at 6 p.m. in the Williamson Room in the Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Avenue
• Thursday, January 10 at 2 p.m. in the Sun City Activity Center Atrium, 1 Texas Drive

In a report on bus service alternatives, KFH Group, Inc. has proposed both a three-bus service and a four-bus service.

Map from page 5 of KFH Group, Inc’s transit alternative report

Map from page 7 of KFH Group, Inc’s transit alternative report

Both alternatives offer service to pretty much the same areas - out University Avenue, Williams Drive, to the major shopping and medical centers. The plan would call for all of the buses to meet at a transit hub at approximately the same time. This transit hub would most likely be a major shopping area. That way, passengers going to that area specifically would get off, and others would be able to transfer to other buses efficiently. Sun City is mentioned specifically as a bus stop.

The three-bus service is considered the minimum necessary to effectively serve Georgetown, but it has a major disadvantage in that it calls for the same bus to serve both Sun City and north Austin Avenue, where there are several apartment complexes and the high school. The four-bus service would be more expensive to operate, but those two areas could be split so that each would run more efficiently. A third alternative (not pictured) would include elements of the other two scenarios, and would add a midday shoppers and medical bus.

The number of hours per day and the number of days per week that the buses would run will also be open for discussion. The choices seem to be between a twelve-hour day at a minimum, up to a fifteen-hour day alternative. The latter would, of course, be more costly. Some of the costs should be defrayed with tasteful advertising in and on the buses, as well as on bus stops. The location of bus stops will be another point of discussion.