COBB COUNTY - Three Cobb Community Transit bus routes could see changes in the months ahead, including cutbacks on the number of trips in a day.

The proposed changes would affect Routes 40, 65 and 70.

Route 40 runs between Marietta and Kennesaw State University, though the changes only affect the portion in Marietta, between Church/Cherokee Street at the North Loop and the Marietta Transfer Center and Park and Ride Lot, on South Marietta Parkway.

Currently, the bus connects those two points via Roswell and South Fairground Streets. If the change is approved, the bus would bypass the Square by taking the Loop around to the south and continuing up South Marietta Parkway.

The second public hearing on this change will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at CCT headquarters in Marietta, 463 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 114. The first hearing was on Thursday.

"This will have no change in cost for us, but will probably have a positive impact because we're adding a service while the original route is still being covered," Gutowsky said.

Route 65, which runs between the Marietta Transfer Center and the Dunwoody MARTA station via Roswell and Johnson Ferry Roads, could see fewer weekday trips. The agency proposes to eliminate outbound service on this route between 9:16 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. weekdays, and inbound service between 10:24 a.m. and 3:51 p.m. weekdays.

The public hearings regarding Route 65 are scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 18 at the Cobb County Central Library, Conference Room, 266 Roswell St., Marietta; and 10 a.m. to noon, March 20 at the East Cobb Government Center, Main Conference Room, 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta.

Service for Route 70, which travels from County Services Parkway to the East/West Connector before it arrives at the Cumberland Transfer Center and turns around to travel inbound, would cut outbound service between 10 a.m. and 3:55 p.m. and inbound service between 11:20 a.m. to 5:25 p.m.

Route 70 takes riders to the health department and other facilities along County Services Parkway.

The public hearings for Route 70 are scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 17 at Cobb County Purchasing Department, 1772 County Services Parkway; and 10 a.m. to noon, March 27 at the South Cobb Government Center, 4700 Austell Road Road, Austell.

CCT Manager Rebecca Gutowsky said that Routes 65 and 70 have the least midday riders of the bus routes.

"With people not riding these, and when we're paying for buses to run and drivers when there are only four or five riders in a matter of a few hours, we have to look at ways to save money and better serve the community," Gutowsky said.

"When we go before the board to ask them to approve the changes, we will include the feedback we have received from the public, and the Board of Commissioners takes this into account when making its decision," Gutowsky said.

Gutowsky said the commissioners could vote on the changes in May, though if approved, the changes would not take effect until about the first of July.

Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said saving money is always important.

"Even if the economy was in good shape, we would make these changes, but with the economy the way it is it's even more appropriate now to keep costs down in a feasible manner," Olens said.

Residents can also comments on the proposed changes via mail to: Cobb Community Transit, Attn: CCT Manager Rebecca Gutowsky, 463 Commerce Park Drive Suite 112, Marietta, GA 30060 by April 27.