Thomas Rogers came hoping to save North Side bus route 22.

Until last night, it was scheduled to be eliminated. Now, it might still have a ray of hope.

Without bus 22, Rogers' only alternative is Chamberlayne route 37.

"Bus 22 is a smaller, more personal" option, Rogers said, "not crazy and crowded like Chamberlayne 37."

Rogers was talking before the start of an informal town meeting sponsored last night by GRTC Transit System at the Richmond Police Academy on Graham Road in North Side. The meeting attracted about 30 people.

Rogers, 26, a tech employee for the city's schools, doesn't drive. The loss of North Side 22 would add to the time it takes him to get to and from work -- to say nothing of the discomfort.

About 10 people in the crowd asked questions or made comments.

A teacher complained that it was hard to carry a lot of materials on the Chamberlayne 37 bus because it was so crowded.

GRTC Chief Executive Officer John Lewis listened to everyone's complaints and suggestions.

In the end, he said, it's all about the money.

Lewis said GRTC receives 85 percent of its funding from one locality -- the city of Richmond.

And the city "cannot continue to maintain this burden," Lewis said.

Richmond gave GRTC $2 million to cover a part of its budget shortfall, and Lewis promised to find the rest of the money.

GRTC has made cuts, including instituting a hiring freeze. But that isn't enough, Lewis said.

He said GRTC currently has a contract to buy diesel fuel for $2.61 a gallon. But that ends in 2009, Lewis said. And if diesel fuel hits $4 a gallon, that will add $4 million to the bus company's annual operating costs.

"I can't continually go to the city government and keep asking for money," Lewis said.

The audience offered suggestions for cost reductions -- including the use of compressed natural gas, focusing routes in the morning and evening and eliminating afternoon routes; and using smaller vehicles.

"I'm a transit person," Lewis said, "I don't relish cutting lines. We can make adjustments to [bus route] 22. But I must close the budget gap."

"A dedicated revenue source is the only way we can move forward," Lewis said.

Harriet Covey takes the Westhampton 16 bus from her home in the 4600 block of Grove Avenue. It is slated for elimination. The bus stop she will have to use once the Westhampton bus disappears is blocks away from her home and drops her off blocks from her office.

"After I've lost all this time walking," Covey said, "there's no advantage to taking the bus."
Contact Linda Dunham at (804) 775-8126 or ldunham@timesdispatch.com.