7/26/14 - The director of the Livingston Essential Transportation Service, or âLETSâ, gave a slide presentation in his annual report to the Livingston County Board of Commissioners this past Monday night. Director Douglas Britz told the board that LETS averages 467 calls for service per day. He says demand is so great that LETS dispatchers are compelled to deny 15-20 calls for service a day on average due to lack of sufficient vehicles, employees or service hours. Board Chairwoman Carol Griffith tells WHMI that, as its name implies, the Livingston Essential Transportation Service is truly an essential and indispensable service to Livingston County residents. Griffith says that as an âenterpriseâ fund, LETS is required to be self-sustaining, and as such does not take any county tax dollars, relying exclusively on federal and state grants and passenger fares. And those fares remain reasonable. Britz says rider fares range from 2-to-6 dollars within the county, and those over 60 pay half-fare. LETS has agreements with the four surrounding counties to transport passengers for medical services. Fares for out-of-county runs to hospitals and other such facilities in places like Lansing and Ann Arbor are $20, round-trip. Britz says that starting this fall, LETS will begin using propane-powered buses to replace the diesel buses because they burn cleaner and are less costly to operate, saving $1.80 per gallon in fuel. After his presentation the board approved creation of a new position, that of LETS deputy director, which will bring the number of employees up to 40. The individual has not yet been selected. (TT/JM)
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