ANDERSON — A company has proposed a new bus service that would connect Anderson and surrounding communities on a route between Indianapolis and Muncie.

John Miller, president of Louisville-based Miller Trailways, said the service is dependent on a federal grant his company has requested through the Indiana Department of Transportation. INDOT will decide on June 25 whether the service will be funded, Miller said. If funded, service would begin after Jan. 1, 2010.

The proposed service would include a daily bus departure from Indianapolis at 9 a.m., arriving in Muncie around 10:30 a.m. and returning to Indianapolis shortly after noon.

The route would include stops each way in McCordsville, Fortville, Ingalls, Pendleton, Anderson, Chesterfield and Yorktown. Fares, depending on distance, would range from $10 to $25 each way, according to information supplied by Miller Trailways.

Miller said the grant is designed to subsidize the route if it operates at a loss, covering half of any shortfall. If the route is profitable, no tax money would be used.

The company hopes to partner with Greyhound, which discontinued service in Anderson this month. Its local agency at the Economy Inn at 2600 Scatterfield Road ended its affiliation with Greyhound effective April 30.

Greyhound officials are seeking a new agency in Anderson.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com