Ask the News - Sept. 17

With Clovis Area Transit System (CATS) why can’t we have a regularly scheduled bus service with bus stops and regular routes? What about getting service to the Clovis airport?

“Clovis Area Transit System is a ‘demand response service,’ providing curb to curb or door to door service,” City Manager Justin Howalt wrote in an email responding to the question from The News.

Howalt wrote CATS takes passengers anywhere within the city limits depending on availability.

The service operates from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday according to Howalt.

“The City of Clovis receives grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration through the New Mexico Department of Transportation to provide the service,” Howalt wrote.

The fare to ride the bus is 75¢ according to Howalt.

Howalt wrote the city has explored implementing a fixed route system but “it would require providing two types of services.”

“The first (service) would be the fixed routes that handle all the bus stops and the second would be the paratransit which provides transportation for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use the regular, fixed route transit services that (would) serve the area,” Howalt wrote.

Howalt added the paratransit passengers would be required to qualify for that service.

“The fixed route passengers would no longer be eligible for the door-to-door service and would have to walk to the nearest bus stop,” Howalt wrote.

He added that, based on past fixed route studies, this type of service was not economically feasible.

“The city is currently looking at ways to expand our service to the Clovis Regional Airport and Cannon Air Force Base,” Howalt wrote.

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