Tuesday, March 5, 2013
No. 23 Orange Route passengers ride in new style. Articulated buses become part of CyRide fleet.
Double-long CyRide buses with accordion like midsections will soon be bending around Ames street corners. The articulated buses are in CyRide's parking lot now and will be put into use on the Orange Route in several weeks after they are outfitted with CyRide features and drivers receive proper training. The buses are so long that they bend in the middle, hence the black, folding accordion-like sections. The 62-foot long buses can carry more than 100 passengers. Two of the extra long buses provide the same capacity as three standard buses, said Sheri Kyras, CyRide transit director. Consultants recommended the purchase in 2007 after studying ways to increase CyRide capacity. The orange route is the busiest in the state, Kyras said. The route…
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Cyride, Ames and ISU's municipal bus service, can be tracked online and on mobile phones with NEXTbus
Nobody will have to freeze at the bus stop as long as they used to. A new GPS system called NEXTbus offered online and through smart phones can tell you exactly how many minutes it will be before the next Cyride bus arrives. NEXTbus, a real-time arrival prediction system, was put in place last week. The technology allows riders to know exactly how many minutes they have before the next bus pulls up at their selected stop thanks to GPS technology. One can find the information on Cyride's NEXTbus page. Riders need to select their route, direction and bus stop from the drop down menus. People can also find the information by calling 515-509-2609 or texting Cyride and a stop number to 41411. The service will be especially helpful when Cyride …
Monday, August 20, 2012
CNN Money has recognized Ames as one of the best places to live, among small cities.
We know Ames is a great place to live, and apparently others feel the same. CNN Money includes Ames in its "Best Places to Live 2012" list of the top 100 small cities in America. Ames comes in at No. 90. CNN notes that "locals and students alike whiz around the city's bustling downtown and expansive parks via CyRide." Ames is also considered Iowa's "hub of engineering and biotechnology" due to Iowa State University and several U.S. government centers. Ames gets credit for a jobless rate of 3.9 percent, and state champs in high school basketball, golf and tennis. For more, see CNN Money's write up on Ames, and a breakdown of stats. Ames is one of three Iowa cities to crack the list. West Des Moines came in at No. 81 and Iowa City at No. 88.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Construction crews have been putting in 16 hour days to prepare the building for its opening.
A concrete mixer churned and earth moving machines operated at full speed outside Ames' newest transportation facility. Construction crews hoped to finish the multi-million Ames Intermodal Facility before a ribbon cutting 11:30 a.m. Saturday, but Tuesday morning crews were still pouring concrete, building its sign and waiting on some windows and other supplies. Construction Supervisor Greg Cox, of Weitz Construction, said he starts his days at 5:30 a.m. and finishes up sometime after 9 p.m. Crews were determined to complete the job as much as they could before the ceremony and Summerfest begins in Campustown Saturday. The hulk of concrete with enclosed glass staircases called the Ames Intermodal Facility opens with a ribbon cutting …
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129 Hayward Ave, Ames, IA
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Sunday, April 1, 2012
City of Ames searches for sculpture in conjunction with intermodal facility opening in July 2013.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, April 1, 2012
From ISU Museums The City of Ames invites sculpture submissions for a work to be exhibited in conjunction with the opening of the new Ames Intermodal Transportation Facility in early July 2013. The entry deadline is May 21. The selected sculpture will be on display from July 2013 for up to three years, and the artist will receive a $3,000 honorarium. For information about the Ames Intermodal Facility click here. For more information on the sculpture rules just keep reading. Entries A total of four entries per artist may be submitted. Along with photographs of the entries, artists must submit a biographical paragraph, an artist’s statement about each entry including the date of creation, and a detailed explanation of how the sculpture …
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
CyRide's cash fare will go up a quarter per ride.
Hopefully Santa left some extra change in the stockings of CyRiders who pay their fare with cash. Ames municipal bus service's cash fare will increase to $1.25 per ride beginning Jan. 1. The 25-percent increase is the service's first since 2004. The increase was necessary because the transit board that manages the service underestimated the price of fuel when finalizing this year's budget. A property insurance premium also increased unexpectedly because of flooding in 2010. Both increases left the trustees with a $250,000 shortfall. CyRide is paid for through the City of Ames, Iowa State University and the university's Government of the Student Body. About 90 percent of CyRiders are students who pay to ride through student fees. Their …
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The CyRide board voted Tuesday to increase most fares by 25 percent and make internal cuts to help close a $250,000 budget gap. Changes would take place in January.
CyRide's fares will increase to make up for part of a $250,000 budget gap. Board of Trustees member Tom Wacha, also an Ames City Councilman, was absent Monday night, so the vote to recommend the change was 5-0. The plan includes raising most municipal bus fares by 25 percent, and making $81,000 in internal cuts. Staff also recommended cutting service on three holidays and eliminating the final trip of the day on the Gold route, which the trustees will rule on later. Changes would begin in January, if Ames City Council approves. “This has the least amount of pain on our existing riders,” said trustee Steve Schainker, who also serves as Ames city manager. He attended a Sept. 1 meeting where some people said they would rather pay a little …
Staff recommends increasing fares by as much as 25 percent and cutting some service.
CyRide's Board of Trustees will discuss increasing rates and cutting service to deal with a $250,000 budget gap at its meeting at 5 p.m. today in the CyRide conference room at 1700 University Blvd. The municipal bus service's fuel costs and insurance premiums rose unexpectedly, increasing spending in the current fiscal year. According to the agenda posted on the Trustees' website, CyRide staff recommends $81,200 in internal savings, increasing fares by as much as 25 percent, extending reduced fares to Medicaid and Medicare recipients and eliminating holiday service and the last trip of the day on the Gold route. The disabled and others who rely on CyRide said cuts to routes and increasing rates would affect their independence during a …
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Missed the Sept. 1 public input meeting but still want to comment? Read on
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
From the City of Ames CyRide held a public meeting 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1 to present possible options to make up for a $250,000 budget gap this year and obtain comments from the public. Anyone who was unable to attend the meeting in person, has an opportunity to view the presentation and fare scenario hand out materials. CyRide passed out some frequently asked questions in the June meeting that also may be of interest. Anyone who has comments on any of the four categories of options: internal budget reductions, fare increase scenarios, service reduction proposals, and additional local contribution, e-mail/call Shari Atwood, CyRide Transit Planner at satwood@cyride.com or 239-5539 by the end of September. Any comments on the scenarios or …
Thursday, September 1, 2011
CyRide, Ames municipal bus service, has to save $250,000 before June 31. Residents were asked what they thought of possible solutions Thursday.
CyRide users who attended a Thursday meeting on proposed cost savings were mostly unwilling to support cuts in service, with one group asking for free rides for students. Staff members with the Ames public bus service received a range of comments in response to their ideas for saving $250,000 in the current budget year. Sheri Kyras, CyRide Transit Director, said staff recommended increasing fares and making a cut to at least one route. The option staff suggested would raise fares by 25 percent and also add a new reduced fare pass for people on Medicare and Medicaid. Employees also recommended either eliminating the pink route that goes northeast, cutting the aqua route that takes people from City Hall to the Furman Aquatic Center, cutting …
Paul Livingston
8:49 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
In my opinion, Ames deserves much better than 90th. The same CNN Money source listed Ames as the 9th best small city in which to live in 2010. more ›