Another round of Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (Tcat) minor system revisions is scheduled to go into effect Thursday, Feb. 24. Area bus riders can expect to see time schedule changes, route changes and relocated bus stops.

This past August, Tcat introduced an entirely revamped system that included new routes and schedules. These changes were part of a service and fare consolidation study that Tcat completed with Weslin Consulting Services, a national public transportation consulting firm. During the study, public input was gathered through more than 50 meetings and a rider survey. This next phase is an extension of that process.

"These past six months have really been an evaluation period," explains Rod Ghearing, Tcat general manager. "We needed to run the new system to find out what worked for this community and what didn't. Most of these adjustments are minor tweaks that are the direct result of helpful feedback that we've received from our 'everyday' local bus experts -- Tcat's riders and drivers."

The latest service adjustments include:

• A new route, Route 9, will operate Friday and Saturday nights when Ithaca College is in session, between IC, the Ithaca Commons and West State Street.
• Route 15, the "Southside Shopper," will have significant route and schedule revisions to provide more efficient service.
• Route changes are in store for routes 30, 40 and 51.
• Slight time adjustments will be made to routes 11, 12, 17, 20, 21, 31, 32, 35, 43, 50, 52, 60, 65, 80 and 82.
• Slight time adjustments will be made to routes 11, 12, 17, 20, 21, 31, 32, 35, 43, 50, 52, 60, 65, 80 and 82.
• There will be relocated bus stops on routes 19, 20, 21, 36, 37 and 82.

To prepare riders, information signs have been posted on all buses and at bus shelters. Revised schedules will be on the buses and at schedule outlets beginning Feb 18. Printable versions of the new schedules currently are available on Tcat's web site at. For further schedule details, call Tcat at (607) 277-RIDE.

Additional contact: Contact: David Lieb

Office: (607) 255-4628

E-mail: djl5@cornell.edu