Michael Kesterson, general manager of the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, gives an update on the process of hiring new bus drivers at Tuesday’s MOVTA board meeting. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

PARKERSBURG — The Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority elected to reduce the number of buses on the Jefferson and Pike Street routes at its meeting on Tuesday.

Before the reduction, there were two buses on these routes with a half hour between them; each route takes an hour to complete. The reduction makes it so there will only be one bus starting the route every hour. Bus riders will have to adjust their schedule to leave a half hour earlier or later.

This change is due to the limited bus drivers working for the MOVTA. General Manager Michael Kesterson noted that they hope to bring at least three more drivers with the right qualifications onto staff before bringing the routes back to normal.

“We are aiming for at least three more drivers, but we are hoping for five,” said Kesterson.

Kesterson noted that he had already interviewed two possible drivers, but they do not have their passenger endorsement. Kesterson also made the hesitant estimation that if everything goes perfectly, the reduced routes will be back to normal by mid-August.

The route reductions passed with a unanimous vote of 4-0, with Board Member Charles D, Harris absent at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I think it’s a tough decision, but it’s one that needs to be made,” said board Vice President Tim Pingley.

The board also elected to cancel its July meeting so the members would be able to attend the West Virginia Public Transit Association’s annual conference. This motion passed with a unanimous vote as well.

The board elected Pingley to sit on the Audit Committee.