Four Orbit buses around the Tempe campus began running new routes Monday while several Tempe Valley Metro routes were suspended to help reduce the city’s deficit.

The Mercury, Earth, Mars and Jupiter buses will now run new routes — finalized in November — and all Orbit routes will operate on reduced service hours on weekends, with Sunday frequency limited to every 30 minutes. Sunday frequency used to be every 15 minutes.

These changes are just the beginning of many efforts to reduce the city’s $16 million deficit. Revenue from a half-cent sales tax that supports the Tempe transportation system has been down, said Sue Taaffe, a transit administrator for the city.

Tempe residents discussed proposed local transit changes at meetings in the fall. Comments showed passengers did not like previous route changes and the results influenced the finalized changes, Taaffe said, adding that she supports the interaction between citizens and council members.

“Most residents understand the necessary budget cuts,” Taaffe said.

In regard to the modified routes, Taaffe said the changes will make trips quicker and more efficient.

However, the revised routes may hinder some riders, she said.

“[It] depends on where you live and where you are going,” Taaffe said.

Orbit bus driver David Delap said he sympathizes with the passengers, who will be inconvenienced by the cuts.

“It is frustrating for the customers, but I support the changes,” Delap said.

Juan Vasquez, a 14-year driver, said the bus system has grown but is experiencing great hardship.

“This [recession] is the worst that has ever happened,” Vasquez said with respect to the Tempe transportation system.

The system needs to gain a source of revenue, Taaffe said, and feedback collected from passengers and civilians found 65 percent of participants would be willing to pay a fare of 50 cents for a one-way trip. Orbit buses are currently free.

If a fare was put in place, $1 million would be brought in annually but couldn’t happen until 2012, Taaffe said.

Although the idea is only in the first steps of consideration, the thought of a fare ignited frustration in some passengers, while others tried to be understanding.

Sheila Padre, a business communications freshman, said the bus system helps her get around and she appreciates the free use.

“Since [students] pay so much for school already, I do not think there should be a fare,” Padre said.

Aliah Jane Vanderbilt, an ASU graduate, said the changes will decrease pollution and omit unnecessary routes.

While she agrees with the route modifications, Vanderbilt said she is neutral about the idea of a fare.

“A good thing only lasts for so long … I prefer it didn’t, but sometimes we have got to pay the man,” she said.

The transit debate will continue, Taffe said.

“[We] have quite a ways to go,” she said. “A public involvement process will be starting Feb. 23 with more changes going into effect in July.”

Reach the reporter at asjohn10@asu.edu