Hut's Transit facing financial end of the line

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The operator of Hut's Transit says he isn't looking to get rich off the service; he just wants to make a living while ensuring the stability of the service.

Gary Hudson met with the town's finance committee last week to request an increase to his contract with the town. The town contracts Hudson and Hut's Transit for $40,000 a year. Hudson wants that increased to $80,000.

In the meeting with the mayor and town councillors, Hudson said rising fuel costs, service costs and the necessity to have his 15-passenger van and 18-passenger bus inspected every six months have contributed to putting the service in dire straits.

"I'm at the point where I need help right now," he said.

Hudson fielded questions from councillors for more than 30 minutes. Although it was clear that the mayor and all of the councillors supported the service, it was also clear that the level of support varied from councillor to councillor.

Ideas were offered such as better advertising of the service's schedule as well as looking at other sources of revenue such as trips. Hudson said he's tried to organize several trips to see the Yarmouth Mariners play on the road during the playoffs, however interest has been very limited.

Councillor Esther Dares encouraged Hudson to take advantage of all of the opportunities to access free promotion for the service, such as the Department of Leisure Services newsletter and e-mail list. She also said the town should consider posting signs at the various stop sites.

The issue of the service's fare was also discussed. A trip on the bus comes in at $2.75 per person. Hudson worries that any more of an increase would push people away from his service and into the back seat of a taxi, which costs $6.50 in town.

Beyond the issue of cost is what the service means to the community. Hudson said for many of his senior riders, the trip on the bus means a chance to get out of the house and socialize. He worried that the loss of the service would create a missing link for many seniors on fixed incomes.

Councillor Wally Strickland said he supports the service but also voiced his concern about its mounting cost and the worry that the cost would only continue to rise. Strickland said that while it was important to find a way to preserve the service at the moment, a long-term plan must be developed, one that could possibly see the town take over the service.

After the meeting, Hudson said he wasn't sure what to think.

"I guess I just kind of have to sit back and wait for them to decide what they feel they need to do."

But Hudson doesn't have much time to wait. The financial records for Hut's Transit, which Hudson provided to the town, are enough to make anyone think twice before getting into the public transit business. In 2006, Hudson came away with a profit of $12,044.10; last year it was down to $1,075.40. He isn't looking to get rich from the service, but without help now Hudson said the service would fold.

During the meeting with council Hudson said an infusion of $20,000 now would sustain him for six months to a year but that without the full $40,000 he would end up right back where he started. He admits that even with a doubling of his budget the cost of operating the service will continue to climb and that some kind of long-term plan must be developed in order to ensure the future of the service.

For his part, Hudson is more concerned about the sustainability of the service than he is about a paycheck.

"This is really beyond even me. This is for the customers and the people of this community that use this service. This is a vital service whether (council) wants to recognize it or not. They need to provide the service to the citizens of Yarmouth.

"I could have just said the hell with it and walked away four years ago . . . The personal money that I put into it, that's gone. I'll never get that back no matter how much I put into it or how much I do. I've come to terms with that."

Yet in spite of this, Hudson still believes it is important for him to keep the service running. It's Hudson's belief that without his service, the community's seniors and people on fixed incomes who depend on the bus would be at a great disadvantage.

"These people deserve . . . and need transportation," he said. "They pay taxes just like everybody else."

Hudson said that in order for he and the town to develop a long-term plan everyone must first realize that transportation doesn't make a profit. Instead, the town needs to approach it in the sense that they are not subsidizing someone's business but rather paying to provide a service for its citizens.

"I am not a businessman going to the town asking for money. I am a businessman providing a service for the Town of Yarmouth, contracting with the Town of Yarmouth to provide that service."