Fayette County's FUTURE Committee is going to take a closer look at the feasibility of a countywide commuter bus service to Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport and nearby Delta Air Lines facilities for local residents who work there.

After a presentation Tuesday by Peachtree City manager Jim Basinger, the committee decided to form a subcommittee that would further study the issue, and Basinger was directed to assemble the subcommittee. FUTURE (Fayette United Team to Use Resources Effectively) is composed of elected and appointed officials from all of Fayette's government agencies. Its task is to find ways local governments can cooperate to save taxpayers' money.

Two separate surveys have been conducted, and the data from those surveys shows some interest in a shuttle service to the airport.

Delta polled its employees who live in Fayette County and received 648 responses indicating an interest in commuter bus service. That survey asked participants what they would be willing to pay each month or for each individual trip. More than one-fourth of the respondents indicated that they would pay more than $50 per month for the service, and 10 percent said they would go above $75 a month. The average maximum monthly payment listed was $44.56.

The average amount figured as an appropriate one-way fare was $3.33, with 21 percent stating that they would pay upwards of $5 per trip.

As can be expected, rush-hour traffic factors itself into the equation. Although Delta employees work every shift imaginable, the majority of those responding to the survey work a Monday-through-Friday schedule. Arrival times were mostly in the 5 a.m.-9 a.m. range, while departures ranged between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The top three destinations listed were Hartsfield itself (38 percent), the Delta general offices (25 percent), and Tech Ops (24 percent).

Peachtree City conducted its own similar survey a fewmonths ago, with 255 of its residents responding.

Destinations and times of arrival and departure were similar, with the average monthly payment at $50.07 and the average one-way fare at $5.36.

In his report to the FUTURE Committee, Basinger said the city's conclusions from these surveys were that a definite interest exists for the service, but potential riders aren't willing to pay enough to make the project realistic, and the varying schedule requirements of the respondents would be difficult to manage.