By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

The road has been rocky so far for Fayette County's new shuttle bus service to Hartsfield Airport, but owner Stuart Hoff said the business is building.

Hoff this week announced plans to start shuttle service to Fort McPherson in addition to his Peachtree City to Hartsfield line.

Phoenix Star Transportation Service, which operates a van shuttling workers to Hartsfield from Kedron Shopping Center in Peachtree City, has postponed the start of a Fayetteville shuttle, though.

“We've put a hold on Fayetteville until we get Peachtree City going,” Hoff said this week.

The Peachtree City line started slow, but now is regularly transporting about 16 people, he said, and soon will increase the size of its shuttle van to handle the increased business. Eventually, plans are to go to a full sized motor coach, he added.

Nine riders have asked for the service in Fayetteville, said Hoff. “As soon as we get five or six more, we'll start it,” he added.

Officials at Fort McPherson have now approved establishment of the shuttle service, Hoff said, and announcements will go up on bulletin boards with a survey to be taken to determine interest.

Cost to riders would be $3, and Hoff said he suggested the fort establish payroll deductions for the shuttle tickets, which would reduce the price by 30 percent, but so far that hasn't been approved.

“The idea for the service actually came from Peachtree City residents working at Fort McPherson,” he said. “When they heard about our shuttle service to Hartsfield for Delta and non-Delta, they called me and suggested that I start the service from Peachtree City.”

Service can start immediately, he said, “as soon as 20 riders call and make their reservation and buy their ticket.”

The reservation number for Phoenix Star has changed to 678-364-1155.