SAINT CLAIR - County residents using Schuylkill Transportation Service fixed-route and shared-ride programs will always be greeted by the vehicle drivers while boarding the buses and vans, but they may soon be hearing a different voice making the announcements.
Several buses are currently testing a new GPS computer system that also assists drivers in dealing with their passengers.
"They help out all over," Joan Breslin, STS marketing and service support coordinator, said Wednesday. "Once they are all installed, we can tell where each of the buses are at any given time of the day. We could tell if they are running late. It's going to be great."
The computers also allow drivers to make pre-programed announcements with the push of a button, such as telling passengers to sit down.
"They are nice, they help save us from getting up to make announcements," said John Kane, who has been an STS driver for nine years.
Kane has been driving the Minersville route for about a year and half, he said.
"Overall, bus ridership has really grown," Kane said.
In addition to more college students taking the buses to area schools, Kane said there have been more people using the service to go to work in the morning.
Despite the increase in passengers, Kane said there hasn't been more people breaking the vehicle rules.
"Most people are very pleasant and friendly," he said. "There's a very select few that cause any problems."
Kane said one of the most common problems seen on buses is the amount of bags passengers bring on the buses.
"We try to accommodate them as much as we can," Kane said.
Kane said sometimes STS is able to send out another vehicle to pick up a passenger with too many bags.
Gary Muclada, senior scheduler for STS, said there are 19 drivers for the shared-ride program and about 10 for the fixed-route buses. It is up to Muclada to find replacements for drivers that call in sick or buses that are running behind schedule.
"It's like putting together a big puzzle," Muclada said.
He has been with STS for 27 years, starting out as a dispatcher. He said it is important for buses to arrive on time as many of the people use STS services to get to important medical appointments.
"As long as I am able to do the scheduling and someone else does the dispatching, all works well," he said.
Muclada said there are usually 11 vans running every day for the shared-ride program and seven bus schedules.
"Since I started here, there has been an increase in wheelchair clients, so that takes up some time, but the drivers are well trained," Muclada said. "It is the driver's responsibility to get the passengers in safely. All our services include curb-side assistance."
While the most popular destinations for the shared-ride programs are for doctor appointments and adult day care centers, Muclada said there has been more of an increase in younger riders than seniors.
"I think seniors are becoming more independent and holding on to their driver's licenses as long as they can," Muclada said.
People are also able to schedule appointments and call for a ride home. The dispatchers make these arrangements while keeping to the schedules.
People using the shared-ride program, as well as handicapped fixed-route riders, are allowed to bring an escort, Muclada said. He also said there is no age limit for children on the shared-ride program, so long as they belong to one of the assistance programs.
"Everyday is different and you need to think ahead because anything can happen and you need to be prepared," Muclada said.
Muclada's shares similar responsibilities with the two dispatchers, who are in constant communication with the drivers. The two dispatchers are Dixie Skinner, who has been with STS for 22 years, and Gary Martinaitis, who worked as a 911 dispatcher before his five years with STS.
"A five-minute stop at a few runs can delay a scheduled stop for 15 minutes and we have to adjust to that," Skinner said. "If someone breaks down or gets behind, we try and find someone else in the area and put them on that schedule to help catch them up."
Martinaitis also said that a few supervisors have commercial driver's licenses, but there are enough drivers to substitute routes.
In addition to being stuck in traffic due to vehicle accidents, Skinner said people running late for appointments also attribute to delays.
"Passengers rarely cause problems," Skinner said. "Most of our drivers and passengers get along really well together, but occasionally there's that grumpy passenger."
Marinaitis said that if there is an incident, it is investigated and appropriate action is taken.
Skinner said someone called the dispatch center Thursday morning with a compliment. She said an escort of one of the shared-ride passengers called, thanking them as the driver helped persuade the passenger to use the seat belt.
"They said they were very happy to see that we are concerned about their safety," Skinner said.
Marinaitis said another common problem deals with car seats. He said public buses do not require car seats as parents are responsible for their child's safety. He said van services require car seats for children, but parents must take the seat with them as there is no guarantee that the same vehicle will be the one to pick them up.
Marinaitis said passengers are allowed six bags on a van and three on a bus.
"Most people are compliant, but some people are regular abusers," Skinner said.
Marinaitis said they don't want people to take up additional seats or block the aisle.
"Sometimes they are new to public transit and didn't know, but it is our job to make sure the rider knows," Marinaitis said.
The dispatchers have had some memorable calls come over the radio, but one stands out from the rest.
"Quite a few years ago during the week of Thanksgiving, we had a driver call in from McAdoo and say, 'You're not going to believe this, but a turkey just broke my door window,' " Skinner said. "Here, it was a frozen turkey that rolled down the aisle and hit the window. Then, a few years later he called and said, 'You're not going to believe this, but it happened again.' Since then, that driver has taken that week off."
"I'm sure that's when the bag limit came into play," Marinaitis said.
Despite having to deal with so many people each day, both dispatchers said they enjoy their job.
"It's a real challenge," Marinaitis said. "You really have to be a people person because you deal with a lot of people and a lot of personalities. When you leave here and all is done well, there is a real sense of satisfaction."
For more information about STS or bus schedules, visit www.go-sts.com.
INFO BOX
Schuylkill Transportation System passenger policy
Source: www.go-STS.com
- No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted on the buses.
- You are only permitted to take on the bus anything you can fit in your seat, otherwise, you will be required to pay for an additional seat.
- Fares must be paid when boarding the bus, not departing the bus.
- Senior citizens must show a state Senior Citizens identification card when boarding the bus.
- Any passes must be shown to the driver each time you get on the bus.
- You can not ride on the bus more than one trip around without paying another fare. No loitering or soliciting on the buses is permitted.
- Please refrain from talking to a bus operator while the bus is in motion.
- Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times.
- Radios may be used with headphones only at a low volume as so not to disturb other passengers.
- Causing disturbances or harassment of other passengers or the operator is strictly prohibited. Fighting, throwing things, pushing, shouting behavior and vulgar language are all forbidden.
- No roller-skates or roller-blades may be worn on the buses.
- Vandalism or graffiti to seats and other portions of the buses is subject to fine and/or prosecution.
- Firearms, weapons, fireworks, chemicals or hazardous materials of any type are not allowed on the buses.
- Anyone who intentionally assaults a transit operator or destroys transit property will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
- Only service animals with the proper identification tags are permitted on the buses. The animal cannot occupy a bus seat and must be on a leash.
- Children MUST be accompanied and controlled by parent or fare-paying guardian while riding on STS vehicle. Parent or fare-paying guardian is responsible for the child's/children's conduct and safety. Includes, but is not limited to, keeping the child/children seated and, when equipped, secured with a seat belt. The child/children MUST not be allowed to be up and walking in the aisles or permitted to stand on the seats.