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Columbia, (WACH) - Joe Mikolia might be without a job if CMRTA axes the route that takes him to his job in Irmo.

Board members answered his pleas, at least temporarily, by tabling a proposed 40% reduction in services.

"It makes me feel better in the short term,” said Mikolia.  “However, the long term questions are still out there, I’m hopeful and optimistic they'll do something, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Transit Director Robert Schneider says CMRTA will wait for the budget process to play out in Richland County and the City of Columbia before implementing any drastic route cuts.

"Instead of just taking the typical approach of just reducing services, we have the financial support of the city to defer the decision,” said Schneider.

Board members are hoping these local governments will set aside some more money for the cash strapped system which is operating on a shoe string budget after both municipalities pitched in a combined million dollars of temporary money last year.

Still officials have not ruled out shifting buses to more productive routes fairly soon. "While unfortunate that there are some routes that do not receive the services they deserve right now, we have number of areas that do have a tremendous need for more transportation,” adds Schneider.

Mikolia says CMRTA can juggle funding issue all it wants, but in his eyes, things won't get any better unless transit leaders think outside the box.

"You have to make riding public transit more appealing,” said Mikolia.  “People used to do it decades ago, now with the increase in cars and personal vehicles, the need is reduced."

The route cuts originally scheduled to be voted on would have taken effect April 30th and that still could happen if CMRTA can't get anymore funds from its municipal partners.