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The Antis Township supervisors this week voted to pay $6,095 next year to Amtran, to fulfill the township's local share obligation for the bus authority's new northern Blair route, provided the other northern Blair municipalities also agree to pay their shares.
Those other municipalities are Tyrone and Bellwood boroughs and Snyder Township.
Tyrone has voted to pay, according to Amtran CEO Josh Baker, and Bellwood officials are reportedly in favor of paying, according to Antis officials.
The route is "getting used," Antis Manager Doug Brown told the board.
Between June 5 of last year and the end of April this year, the route between Pinecroft and Tyrone has generated 3,848 rides, despite being only a part-time operation during that period, according to information provided by the township and Amtran.
"I think that's an incredible number," said Supervisor Brian Kustaborder.
Kustaborder met two people who had used the route to come north from Altoona who "can't say enough good about (the service)," he said.
It seems to be well-patronized by seniors, including a group at a local housing development who now depend on it to access their doctor's offices, Brown said.
Business owners in Bellwood support it, because it brings in customers -- and could provide transportation for potential employees, Brown said.
Fire companies in Northern Blair recently held a class on dealing with fires on the kind of compressed natural gas equipment used on Amtran's buses, which "shows the community is behind it," said Supervisor Ben Hornberger.
"It's a wonderful service," Hornberger said. "It's really catching hold."
The route started in June last year with Saturday runs only.
In August, Amtran added Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This month, it became a full-time route, although it's still a pilot project, not requiring the local municipal matches.
The match requirements begin at the start of 2025.
Municipalities are expected to provide 3% of the costs of service to their areas, based on a formula that takes into account mileage and hours the buses spend in those municipalities, Baker said previously.
There are 11 stops in Antis, based on information provided by Amtran.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.