VALPARAISO | Without a price tag for continuing the Saturday ChicaGo Dash service beyond Dec. 27, the city's Board of Public Works and Safety was unable to approve an extension into 2009.
The Saturday service was added to the weekday express runs from Village Station to the Loop in November to serve the holiday shoppers and those who wanted to visit the sights of Chicago. Ridership rose to 33 two weeks ago, which prompted city officials to consider continuing it through at least February.
Stuart Summers, executive director of the city's Redevelopment Commission which helps fund the express bus service, said Free Enterprise System -- the company contracted to provide the service -- was asked to submit a quote for continuing the Saturday service. The company e-mailed Summers unable to confirm the price.
Without a cost to present to the board for approval this week and no more board meetings until next year, the service will cease after Saturday's run. It might return after the spring break, Summers said.
"The customers like it," he said. "It was particularly good for the holiday season. We had church groups and families using it. I doubt there would be as much interest in January and February as there would be if we restart it in the spring."
He will have to consult with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and the Regional Bus Authority, agencies which funnel local and federal funds to the service. The city plans to eventually turn the operation of the express service over to the RBA.
"We might go out for competitive quotes for just the Saturday service," Summers said. "I'm not sure we want to, but a smaller bus company could probably handle it and could give us a more competitive price."
He said only 10 adults and three or four children, who ride free with a fare-paying adult, took advantage of the service last Saturday. Two Valparaiso University students bought one-way tickets to take the bus home for the holidays rather than riding the South Shore commuter train.
Summers said ridership on the weekday ChicaGo Dash has dropped during the holidays because of people's work schedules, and the buses didn't run on Christmas and won't run on New Year's Day. He said some riders have asked about a shuttle service from the Dune Park South Shore station to Valparaiso for times when they have to work late and can't take the express bus home.
"It's a matter of surveying the customers and seeing what they want," he said.
