VALPARAISO | Just a couple of weeks after having its biggest Saturday ridership ever, the ChicaGo Dash will cease operating the weekend run after this Saturday -- until at least the spring.
That change was approved Wednesday by Valparaiso's Board of Public Works and Safety. City Transit Director Tyler Kent said Saturday ridership drops off dramatically when cold weather arrives.
The Dash had a similar surge of riders a year ago two weeks before Christmas as people used the express bus to Chicago's Loop for shopping and other holiday activity. It was discontinued shortly after and resumed in June.
Several other actions designed to improve weekday ridership also were approved by the board.
The first will change the downtown departure time for the first bus from 3:40 to 4:10 p.m. He also is working with the Indiana Toll Road to arrange a stop at the carpool parking lot at Ind. 49.
Kent said he has heard from potential riders in the Chesterton area who said they would board the bus at the toll road. The bus leaving Valparaiso's Village Station at 7:15 a.m. will stop there beginning Jan. 25 for a 90-day trial run. Riders will have to buy their tickets in advance. The bus will wait only five minutes before leaving.
Kent said the toll road pickup could add 20 percent to the average daily ridership, which would be similar to the increase experienced with the addition of a third bus several months ago. Weekday ridership averages about 55.
The city is still working with Hobart about a possible stop there. A survey of Hobart residents will be included with the January utility bills.
Four buses being bought for the Dash service are expected to be in service by April. Free Enterprise System, which operates the service using its own buses, will continue to provide drivers.
At Wednesday's meeting the board was asked which of two design options it preferred for the exterior of the new buses. The board chose a third option.
Both options had ChicaGo Dash in big letters, but Mayor Jon Costas said the city's name needs to be more visible.
"I feel this is a great way to promote the community," Costas said. "They don't know where the bus is coming from. It's not mentioned on the current buses. We want them to know it is coming from Valparaiso."
