Advertisements on 20 wood and concrete benches that have popped up around the city since last fall are not yet turning a profit, but they are netting $200 per month for the NRoute Transportation Commission, Evelyn Bumpers, system director, said Wednesday.

NRoute entered into a contract with Bob Holladay, representing Monroe-based Monroe Outdoor, in May to sell ads on bus benches, stops and buses. Holladay has since placed 20 benches throughout the city and began selling ads in October. About six of the benches have ads on them, but advertisements have not yet appeared on bus stops or any of NRoute’s fleet of nine vans.

“Right now he says they’re not making any money,” said Bumpers, who noted NRoute gets a minimum of $200 per month or a 20 percent cut of profits according to the contract.

NRoute is to be paid quarterly by Holladay, and Bumpers said she is expecting to get a check for $600 in February for the first quarter sales. The six clients who are advertising on the benches have contracts of between three and 12 months, she added.

“The next quarter he expects to be consistent with the first quarter,” said Bumpers. “But the third quarter he feels certain that it’s going to increase and he will start to see some profit.”  

In the original contract, monthly income estimates were $3,500 for the company, with expected increases to $5,000. Bumpers said the ads have thus far generated about $1,200 per month. Holladay advanced construction costs of about $1,200 to build and place the benches.

Initially operated as a department of the City of Vicksburg, NRoute was spun off as an independent utility in February 2007 and the transportation commission was formed in August 2007. NRoute buses currently operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except holidays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Monthly ridership numbers have ranged from 3,400 to 5,700 over the past year.

Commissioners present Wednesday were Mark Buys, Dianne Gawronski and Alvin Taylor. A slate of officers was selected by the board for 2010, with Gawronski elected president, Buys as vice president and Taylor as secretary. The commission opened its monthly meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Commissioner John Wayne Jabour, who died on Monday and had formerly served as president.

Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com