The Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Casper Area Transportation Coalition will present proposed changes to the current bus routes in Casper at an open house next week.

This will be the second meeting during the current 45-day period ending Jan. 10 in which CATC and the MPO want comments on the future of Casper’s bus routes.

The organizations held the first open house in November.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization works with the public, elected officials, and professional staff to plan road, trail, bus, and rail systems. The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration pays for more than 90 percent of its budget.

The Casper Area Transportation Coalition was formed in the early 1980s and provides a demand-response bus system called CATC -- the buses are cream-colored -- for the elderly, disabled, blind, deaf and others who do not have access to other transportation.

In 2005, the city created the fixed-route system called The Bus -- the white buses with the blue, red, green and yellow stripes. The six routes serve Casper, Evansville and Mills.

Now, the MPO and CATC are considering changes that may include the removal or moving of bus stops and/or modifications to service of Yellow, Red, Green, and Blue fixed bus routes.

“This is an opportunity to explore changes that improve the efficiency of the overall bus system in light of increasing costs,” Metropolitan Planning Organization Supervisor Aaron Kloke said.

CATC and MPO will hold the open house at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. Fourth St., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Buses will run at the end of the open house. All participants will receive a free bus token.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Kloke at the city at (307) 235-8255.

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