Published: August 22, 2008 12:26 pm      

Federal law forces CamTran to alter FolkFest bus schedule

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

Limited free bus transportation to Johnstown FolkFest will be available this year, but the word shuttle is taboo.

According to Jim Parks, director of operations for CamTran, a new federal law that regulates the chartering of public bus systems has caused some changes in the transportation system.

CamTran will provide limited free transit service between FolkFest and the Cambria City Ethnic Festival along existing bus routes.

These routes are Coopersdale No. 7, Oakhurst No. 15 and outbound Westmont-Brownstown No. 20.

Service will be available from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 31.

“The issue is that public buses cannot deviate from existing routes,” said Shelley Johansson of Johnstown Area Heritage Association, which sponsors FolkFest. “I think this will work out great. Riders can get a bus at any of three locations – the transit center, outside FolkFest at the eternal flame on Washington Street, and at Broad Street and Fourth Avenue.”

Parks added that those wanting to catch a bus back downtown will not have to travel the loop to Coopersdale or Oakhurst first.

“There will be incoming buses,” Parks said. “We’ll have signs up. They’ll get them on the other side of Broad Street.”

Riders can expect a bus hourly on Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturday and every hour on Aug. 31.

“Riders won’t notice that much of a difference,” Johansson said. “They will just have to look for one of the three buses.”

In the past, CamTran had provided free shuttle service to Johnstown’s three simultaneous Labor Day festivals – FolkFest, Cambria City Ethnic Festival and the Log House Arts Festival in Westmont – as a public service through a sponsor.

Under the new regulations, CamTran did not have to continue the practice, with this year’s modifications.

“We’ve been doing this since 1989,” Parks said. “Our board of directors recognized that with the new regulations, we didn’t have to continue, but they thought we should. I’m glad it’s still going to be that way.”

Federal regulations have not effected the Inclined Plane, so rides up and down the hill will still be free through the sponsorship of Somerset Trust Co.

“The Incline will be used on an as-needed basis,” Johansson said.

Rides on the Incline will be available beginning one hour before the scheduled opening of FolkFest and end one hour after the scheduled closing each day.

Parking will be available downtown at city-owned garages at Lincoln Street, Main Street and Vine and Walnut streets as well as on the street.

Because of the new regulations, CamTran buses will not be able to make the downtown loop to pick up passengers at parking garages.

Those who wish to ride from the downtown must go to the transit center on Main Street.

A handicapped parking lot will be set up at Washington and Johns streets, courtesy of Suppes Ford.

Those who use this lot must display a handicapped placard or license plate.

Handicapped parking spaces also are available at city-owned garages.