"It's a 2 edged sword." That's how transit manager Ron Wenger describes the effect high gas prices are having on MET Transit. Because while rider-ship is up about 5 % Wenger says that doesn't come close to covering the cost of fuel. "The federal and state government knows plights of transit across the country and we hope they'll begin providing more operating funds as we try to offset price rises."

If diesel prices stay as high as they are now, MET will be about $150,000 over budget for this year. Their new MET transfer center downtown that's set to open in april is being built with plenty of room to expand. But with high gas prices, they may have to look at cutting back on routes and raising fares. "We certainly built it to be expanded and it'll hold up to 15 busses at one time. We're actually in the middle of a route schedule study, but we aren't looking to add routes right now." That study ends in October, then they'll look at what changes need to be made. Changes like higher fares, rearranging routes to put more in highly used areas and less where there are fewer riders, but not fewer routes just yet.

They broke ground on the downtown transfer center just a few weeks ago. The center will be on North 25th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.