Alliston Herald

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Radio station owner wants back in on bussing

BY Maija Hoggett, Staff January 13, 2010 16:01

ALLISTON - With the Greyhound Canada bus services to Alliston ending in April, the man who attempted to start a town transit system a couple years ago could be trying his hand at offering a replacement service.

Frank Rogers tried starting a town transit system in 2007, but the buses never made it into operation. Rogers now operates the radio station CFAO Alliston, which has been asking its listeners to e-mail the station with comments on the loss of the Greyhound service, and join a petition for a licence for the bus line operated by Greyhound and another Greyhound holds a licence for from Alliston to Newmarket that the company has never used.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Rogers said he had no comment on the terms of a new bus service until after a press release comes out, which he expects this afternoon.

"An affiliated company of the radio station is looking at taking over (the service), but there's procedures that have to happen before that," said Rogers.

Rogers is concerned any information being made public prior to a media release will be wrong.

"I'm saying it's really complicated right now because of the licencing and everything else, but as I said there will be an official press release coming out," said Rogers.

In 2007, Rogers was president of New Tec Transit. He registered a company, Canada's Pride, with the Ontario Highway Transport Board and set up an office in Beeton, from which he was later evicted.

Ads were also sold to local businesses for the buses and, at that time, Rogers said the company had two buses ready for the road. He also kept New Tecumseth council apprised of the transit situation, although he never asked the town for money, only support in putting up signs and determining bus routes.

Several launch date promises to have a bus on the road by were set, but none were met.

In a radio show New Year's eve, Rogers told listeners he was out of pocket to the tune of $100,000 for the failed New Tec Transit attempt. He also estimated an in-town transit service would cost at least $500,000 to get off the ground with just two buses.

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