When fuel costs $500 a week, an empty commuter bus just can’t pay for itself. That’s what Cedar Key Transit commuter bus owner and operator Bill Phillips said last week when he suspended the new transportation service. Most days, the bus has been entirely empty, though it occasionally has one or two riders.

“I thought it would build from one week to the next, but it didn't,” Phillips said. “We need to regroup.”

This is not the end of Cedar Key Transit, Phillips said. “We just need to look at the routes and see what our options are.”

Phillips said one of the hardest obstacles has been getting the word out. “The community needs to see this as a resource,” he said. “But maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree. Maybe there are other routes that would be better –shopping trips, movie night– I'm open to new ideas.”

Phillips hasn’t ruled out charters, but that isn’t his vision for Cedar Key Transit.

“Charters are nice, but I don’t think they help the community as much,” he said.  “A full commuter bus takes 50 cars off the road.”

The original route targeted Shands Healthcare employees working 12-hour shifts. The bus departed Cedar Key Library at 4:45 a.m. daily, made stops in Sumner, Otter Creek, Chiefland, Bronson and Williston, then arrived at Shands Cancer Center shortly before 6:45 a.m. An hour later the bus returned to Cedar Key along the same route. The bus repeated the same schedule in the evening beginning at 4:45 p.m.

While the focus was the 12-hour shift worker, many others could benefit, too, Phillips said, such as people wanting a day trip to Cedar Key, Gainesville, or any of the stops between. College students commuting from Levy County into Gainesville could also use the service, he said.

The bus is equipped with WIFI that is guaranteed to work at speeds up to 110 miles per hour. “And it’s a very fast connection,” Phillips added.

Coffee and snacks are also available during the ride.

While Phillips takes  time to strategize and plan the future of Cedar Key Transit, he'll pick up the occasional charter and possibly head to Pensacola to aide in the oil disaster. BP pays $800 per day for the use of a bus like his, he said. “In the mean time, we'll do some charters and maybe we'll be lucky enough to be able to assist with the oil clean-up – that could really help replenish some funds.”