Officials with the city’s bus system will hold four public meetings Thursday and Friday to explain possible cuts to bus service and seek public comments.

Mountain Metropolitan Transit may be forced to cut up to 50,000 hours of bus service beginning April 5 because of an $8 million revenue shortfall in the city budget.

Routes being considered for elimination are: E1, E2, E3 2, 20, 22, 23, 24, 30, FREX (Springs to Denver commuter service), DASH (the free downtown shuttle) and local Sunday service.

Routes proposed for possible service or route reductions are: 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 22.

Routes proposed for possible improvements, including operating on more standard schedules either every half-hour or every hour, are: 1, 7, 32.

Route 31, funded separately by the city of Fountain, possibly may be extended to serve Pikes Peak Community College.

Thursday’s meetings are:

—- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Pikes Peak Community College, Centennial Campus Atrium, 5675 S. Academy Blvd.

— 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Colorado Springs City Hall, Council Chambers, third floor, 107 N. Nevada Ave.

Friday’s meetings are:

— 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Falcon Police Substation, conference room off main lobby, 7850 Goddard St.

— 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., East Library, large meeting room, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Sierra High School senior Clarence Bumpas gets a hug from his mom, Kristina Bumpas, after he signed a letter of intent Wednesday, February 4, 2009, to play football for Kansas State. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette

MARK REIS