The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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February 3, 2010

Slick streets force Enid Transit to reduce hours

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Enid Transit has reduced its hours during the recent heavy snowfall, but director Kim Watkins said it’s a day-to-day consideration.

Among the restrictions has been a cut on traveling in the Southern Heights neighborhood, where streets are hard to navigate.

“We go if we have someone on board, but the area is very bad, the roads are still pretty slick,” Watkins said. “We have very little business in and out.”

Watkins said Transit drivers know when passengers who live in Southern Heights ride and they make the rotations. He said there has been no change in where people get on Transit buses. Due to the weather, hours have been reduced all over town. Transit currently runs 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Normal hours are 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. When the roads improve, hours will return to normal, Watkins said.

City Manager Eric Benson said there are a number of areas in town that are difficult to negotiate during bad weather and Transit typically only goes on regular routes.

“It differs by the storm. We respond to the elements and try to keep it running,” Benson said.

He said his major concern is not hurting passengers or drivers.

“I have to make Kim Watkins take buses off the streets,” he said. “Southern Heights has some streets with sharp inclines and sharp turns at the bottom and that could put some drivers in danger.

“When the roads are bad, some areas do not get served until they are in better condition.”

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