COLUMBIA (WACH) -- CMRTA board members telling WACH Fox News the bus system is in a crisis.
"It's time to fish or cut bait. The system is hemorrhaging and it’s not going to take a band-aid. It’s going to take major surgery to keep it alive," says Bob Liming, CMRTA Board Member.
Liming says the bus system only has $300,000 on hand but has more than $800,000 in operating expenses.
He says the lack of money has been a problem for years.
“Originally when the system was taken over about twelve years ago the money came from SCE&G. They were smart to get rid of the system but didn't supply significant funding and now the funding it all gone," says Liming.
He says if city and county leaders don't provide the bus system with money transportation services may shut down.
"I need the bus routes, I need the bus to be able to take me on my job to get to work that’s how I travel," says Linda Hillian, CMRTA bus rider.
“That would mean the curtailment of public transit to every hospital. You couldn't get to the veterans hospital people couldn't get to their doctors appointments, grocery stores," says Liming.
Liming says the system currently operates on a $13 million dollar budget with funding coming from the federal, city and county levels but he says it's never been enough.
Liming says an emergency board meeting is set for Thursday.
He also says city and county leaders will meet next week to discuss the issue.
But the state newspaper reports area leaders want changes first in CMRTA management and a new look at its finances before making a financial commitment.
Liming hopes the issue can be resolved because if not he says the buses won't be rolling out anywhere come September.
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