MichiganRadio

Budget & Buses ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Public transportation advocates say Michigan bus riders may be left by the side of the road because of state budget negotiations.

Michigan legislators are nearing a deal to close a billion dollar budget gap. To help meet that goal, state lawmakers are using $11 million from Michigan's Comprehensive Transportation Fund to help shore up the state's general fund. The C-T-F money helps Michigan's many local bus systems.

Clark Harder is the executive director of the Michigan Public Transit Association. He says shifting the public transit fund money into the general fund will make it more difficult for cash strapped local bus operations to maintain service.

"If we take that kind of a hit on the state funding, no way local transit agencies can continue operations as they now exist," says Harder.

Harder says that means some bus routes may have to be cancelled, and other services curtailed.

Last year, Michigan bus systems recorded more than 100 million rides. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio