Bus Company Taking The Heat For Poor DATA Service

Monday, plenty of people had to wait between one to two hours in the heat for a bus.

Coach USA took over management of the

Durham Area Transit Authority

, DATA, bus system on July 1.

General Manager Thomas Hartley says that after years of neglect, most of the buses are in poor condition and are breaking down.

Out of 43 buses, seven were out of service Monday morning.

Hartley says Coach USA is trying to fix the problems as quickly as possible so they are safe to ride. Passengers say these buses need to be a ride they can depend on.

"It makes you mad, especially in this heat," says a rider. "You're trying to get where you've got to go and we're paying money and we expect service."

When Coach USA was given the contract, it was also given 90 days to straighten out problems. After October 1, the city will fine the company $250 for every route missed.

Hartley says if the company had been fined Monday, it would have cost about $10,000.