HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Despite high gas prices and Putnam County's rapid residential and commercial growth, there are no immediate plans to implement a bus system within the county.

County Commissioner Joe Haynes said recently that implementing a bus line is not a priority for the county.

Haynes said he has gotten only a few calls from residents who want public transportation.

The county has a taxi service and Putnam Aging also provides transportation services, he said.

Lynette Carte, a resident of Winfield, said a bus line in the county is past due.

"I'm surprised they don't have one already," she said.

While loading groceries in the back of her car in the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Hurricane, she pointed to the new Arby's and KFC and other commercial developments in the area.

People are traveling from all over the county to work in these new businesses, she said. "It doesn't make sense not to have a bus line."

Hurricane City Manager Ben Newhouse said the city does not have the funds to implement a working public transportation system.

Newhouse said a few years ago it was estimated to cost about $130,000 a year to operate a bus system in Hurricane. He said with current gas prices that number has probably doubled.

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Despite high gas prices and Putnam County's rapid residential and commercial growth, there are no immediate plans to implement a bus system within the county.

County Commissioner Joe Haynes said recently that implementing a bus line is not a priority for the county.

Haynes said he has gotten only a few calls from residents who want public transportation.

The county has a taxi service and Putnam Aging also provides transportation services, he said.

Lynette Carte, a resident of Winfield, said a bus line in the county is past due.

"I'm surprised they don't have one already," she said.

While loading groceries in the back of her car in the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Hurricane, she pointed to the new Arby's and KFC and other commercial developments in the area.

People are traveling from all over the county to work in these new businesses, she said. "It doesn't make sense not to have a bus line."

Hurricane City Manager Ben Newhouse said the city does not have the funds to implement a working public transportation system.

Newhouse said a few years ago it was estimated to cost about $130,000 a year to operate a bus system in Hurricane. He said with current gas prices that number has probably doubled.

Newhouse, like Haynes, said he has received only a few inquiries about a bus system. 

According to the 2006 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, West Virginia ranks 11th in work commute time, with an average travel time of 25.6 minutes.

And as a largely rural state, mass transit isn't available to most people. Only 1 percent of workers used public transportation to get to work in 2006, compared to a national average of 4.8 percent.

According to the state Department of Transportation, there are rural and small urban bus systems located in Bluefield, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Grantsville, Kingwood, Petersburg, Philippi, Summersville, Wayne and West Hamlin. 

There also are urban bus systems located in Charleston, Huntington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Weirton and Wheeling.

Newhouse said Hurricane experienced 16.3 percent growth over a five-year period prior to 2005, and growth hasn't slowed down.

Brent Walker, assistant director of communications for the DOT, said there has been discussion about implementing bus systems statewide.

"There has been some preliminary discussion in Putnam County, but that's all there has been," he said.

Walker said the majority of the cost and the implementation process would fall primarily on the county.

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 348-5113.