(Zach Richter): IT HAS NOW BEEN JUST OVER TWO MONTHS SINCE CENTRO ANNOUCED THEIR NEW BUS SERVICE THE SYRACUSE AIRPORT. I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK.
IT’S BEEN ABOUT ONE MONTH SINCE CENTRO BEGAN THEIR NEW BUS SERVICE TO THE SYRACUSE AIRPORT. BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW USING THIS SERVICE?
(Steven Koegel): It’s about a handful of people. Its about 5 to 10 people a day who use that service to and from the hub and from the airport.
(Richter): STEPHEN KOEGEL IS CENTRO’S VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. HE SAYS THAT THIS NEW AIRPORT SERVICE WAS THE PREVIOUS MATTYDALE ROUTE.
(Koegel): Instead of going to North Syracuse. We Directed it and straightened it out a little bit so we could make the time and get out to the airport.
(Richter): That new bus service from the Centro Transit Hub leaves from Direct behind me right across that street over there. THE NEW SERVICE COSTS ONLY 1 DOLLAR FOR MOST AND HAVE OVER 13 DEPARTURES EACH WEEKDAY. BUT SOME SAY THEY STILL DRIVE.
(Syracuse Resident): I usually take the like first flight out in the morning so it’s pretty early. So I don’t think I want to walk at like 4 a.m. down to the bus to go the airport. But I feel like I would be open to taking the bus from the airport back downtown.
(Richter): I TOOK A RIDE ON THE SY-84 ROUTE TO THE AIRPORT WHICH CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SCHEDULED SERVICE ON SUNDAY. EVEN THOUGH SUNDAY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRAVEL DAYS OF THE WEEK.
(Koegel): We know that the majority of the individuals are employees at the airport. That’s really what that service is designed to serve.
(Richter): NCC NEWS SPOKE WITH AN EMPLOYEE AT THE AIRPORT WHO WANTED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS WHO SAYS THIS SERVICE HAS CHANGED HER LIFE. SHE SAYS IT HAS SAVED HER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. WE ALSO SPOKE WITH OTHER SYRACUSE RESIDENTS WHO SAY THEY WILL NOW ALWAYS USE THE BUS WHEN HEADED TO THE AIRPORT.
(Syracuse Resident): I absolutely would take the bus. I love riding the bus, especially during the summer time. And it’s only 1 dollar, you can’t beat that.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Centro began providing bus service to the airport last month. The new service costs only $1 and makes 13 trips each weekday. The SY-85 goes straight from the Centro Transit Hub in downtown Syracuse to Syracuse Regional Hancock International Airport. NCC News asked Centro’s Vice President of Communications and Strategic Planning what the current ridership data is like one month in.
“Speaking to bus operators, it’s about a handful of people. It’s about 5 to 10 people a day who use that service to and from the hub and from the airport,” said Koegel.
One Syracuse resident we spoke to said that she would not take the bus to the airport because she takes early flights but feels she “would be open to taking the bus from the airport back downtown.”
Koegel also stated that the bus service is not designed for travelers.
“We know that the majority of the individuals are employees at the airport. That’s really what that service is designed to serve,” Koegel explained.
One airport employee we spoke to said she has saved hundreds of dollars so far by taking the bus to work.
The SY-84 bus route previously did not go to the airport and was the previous Mattydale route. The route does not provide service on Sunday and has only limited service on Saturday. However, Centro said this new expanded route is still in a trial period for at least the next 6 months.
