Service will begin with free rides

Sunday, Aug. 6, 2000 | 1:14 a.m.

No fares will be collected during the first week or two while kinks are worked out of the system, said Sandi Stanio, state transit planner.

"Hopefully people will still ride when they have to pay," she said.

Buses will run Monday through Friday. The service hopes to attract people tired of the daily commute as well as others who want to make the 30-mile trip without the hassle of driving.

"We're excited," Stanio said. "We know it will take time to build the service and to gain people's confidence that they'll get to work on time and be able to make their connections."

A one-way ticket on Public Rural Ride, or PRIDE as the system will be called, will cost $3 for the general public, $1.50 for seniors and the disabled, and $2 for youth under 18, Stanio said.

Buses will leave from the Carson City Wal-Mart at 5:30 a.m. and then from Kmart on the north end of town by 5:45 a.m., arriving at Meadowood Mall in Reno at 6:23 a.m. and the National Bowling Stadium near the Washoe County Citifare transfer station at 6:38 a.m.

From Reno, buses will leave as early as 4:50 a.m., stopping at Meadowood Mall at 5:04 a.m. and arriving in Carson City by 5:37 a.m.

Buses will leave almost hourly from Carson City to Reno between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. They leave again at 11:30 a.m. and noon, and hourly from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All riders will be able to transfer to Washoe County's Citifare system at no cost. Rides on Citifare generally cost $1.25 per ride.

Stanio said the state plans to have bids ready in 90 days to expand the PRIDE route along both Interstate 80 and Highway 50.