From staff reports

Jefferson Lines announced Thursday that its experimental

bus route between Albert Lea and Worthington will be discontinued Feb.

Friday, February 09, 2001

Jefferson Lines announced Thursday that its experimental

bus route between Albert Lea and Worthington will be discontinued Feb. 17.

Service from Albert Lea to north, south and east destinations will continue without interruption, said Jefferson Lines Vice President Bonnie Buchanan.

The route from Albert Lea to Worthington has been operating for two years.

&uot;We were enthusiastic when we started to the route,&uot; Buchanan said. &uot;We knew it was going to be difficult because the route had been abandoned for more than a decade. We had good support from community leaders, the media and our agents, but the growth we needed to justify the route just wasn’t there.&uot;

High fuel prices also played a part in the decision, Buchanan said.

Jefferson Lines began its schedule service operation in Minneapolis in 1919. The company serves more than 100 communities between Minnesota and Texas.

&uot;There is a need for service between Albert Lea and the communities on I-90, but I think the demand is better suited to a van type of operation rather than our 47-passenger motorcoaches,&uot; Buchanan said.&uot;If any organization would be interested in providing further service from any of the affected communities to our primary route system, we would be happy to talk with them.&uot;