Give express bus service a test

So far, Dorchester County and Summerville aren't prepared to chip in for express bus route service for their residents who commute to Charleston. Money may be short, but the experiment is worth the comparatively modest cost.

Residents from the town and county strongly supported the idea in a public hearing last year, but elected officials in each jurisdiction have rejected the idea. County Council Chairman Larry Hargett told our reporter that the county can't sustain the cost, given an expected tough budget year.

The stunning success of two existing express bus routes already in service in metropolitan Charleston says that Summerville and Dorchester County should rethink their priorities. Ridership on those two routes, operated by the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, increased from 9,800 in February 2007 to 25,000 this February.

There is little question that rising gas prices have contributed to the increase in ridership, and Dorchester motorists are paying the same gas prices as those in Charleston. It's safe to say that a considerable amount of fuel is being idled away in traffic by Dorchester motorists, given the level of congestion during rush hour between Summerville and Charleston.

CARTA has obtained funding for buses needed to serve the routes and has sought $430,000 to help with the operation of the bus routes. There is a possibility of state assistance, but Summerville and Dorchester residents ought to be able to count on their local councils to see the importance of mass transit now and in the future. A joint contribution from both Summerville and Dorchester would make the overall expense easier to sustain.

Given the experience in Charleston, a year should be sufficient to determine the success or failure of a commuter express route between Summerville and Charleston. The participation of town and county also would bolster the argument for commuter rail between Summerville and Charleston, now being studied.

Eventually, mass transit will have to be provided on a regional basis for a comprehensive solution to the growing number of commuters on the road. The need is evident between Summerville and Charleston. Dorchester County Council and Summerville Town Council should step in to make it happen this year.