Facing budgetary constraints, TCAT released a proposal on Wednesday that would consolidate several routes and increase bus fares from $1.50 to $2.50 for commutes that begin outside the greater Ithaca area. The proposal, if accepted, would go into effect on Jan. 1.

While TCAT Communications and Marketing Manager Patty Poist said that the changes would not affect many Cornell students, she acknowledged that University faculty and staff who live in nearby areas may face consolidated routes and steeper charges.

“It will have very little impact on Cornell students,” she said. “It could impact, of course, people who work at Cornell and who live in rural areas.”

If implemented, several routes that currently overlap will be combined, while others will be eliminated altogether. According to a press release from TCAT, the modified routes were chosen based on low passenger rates.

“Our service went through an excruciating process to make sure that this will have minimal impact on everybody,” Poist said. “They really burned the midnight oil to try to make it as painless as possible.”

The press release states that financial support for the bus system has been on the decline for the past three years, forcing TCAT to cut spending. This is the first proposed fare hike since 2003, according to TCAT.

“It’s really such a bittersweet time for TCAT because we’re growing in ridership,” said Poist, who added that the American Public Transportation Association recently named TCAT the number one transportation agency of its size in North America.

Poist said it was frustrating to see financial restraints at the state and local levels of government undermine TCAT’s growth and hopes that lawmakers come to recognize the benefits of public transportation.

“We just hope ... to let [lawmakers] know that this is indeed a wonderful alternative to get people to work and where they need to go in an economical way,” Poist said.  “There are a lot of folks out there who simply don’t have cars or can’t afford gas prices. It’s ironic and bittersweet.”

Trumansburg resident Tricia Hammond said that she would continue to take the bus, even when faced with increased fares, for monetary reasons.

“I use the bus for everything — I don’t even have a car anymore,” Hammond said. “I don’t think I’d take it the bus any less though [with fare increases], because the bottom line is that it’s still cheaper than gasoline.”

TCAT will be holding hearings to address public concerns about the changes.

“We feel we owe it to our passengers to really get out there and talk to them,” Poist said. “We want to meet them face-to-face and explain everything we possibly can to answer their questions and find ways to ease the pain that this will cause.”