ATTLEBORO - GATRA bus riders are being urged to speak out against service cuts planned for the coming year.

Petitions are being circulated in which patrons of the debt-ridden, cash-poor public bus service are urged to voice concerns at hearings scheduled in Attleboro and North Attleboro on Tuesday.

Increasing costs, low ridership, expanding debt and "inadequate state funding" are pushing GATRA to cut services to meet its budget, officials said.

Many of the riders affected are elderly or disabled and have already raised their concerns with local officials.

Madeline McNielly, executive director of the Attleboro Council of Aging, said seniors worry about access to health care, social services, shopping and recreation. She's fighting the cuts. "The council on aging continues to hear from elders throughout the community that access to affordable and reliable public transportation remains a primary need," she said. "We cannot afford, nor allow, any further erosion in public transportation services to continue."

McNielly wants state lawmakers to seek more funding for the debt-ridden public transit service.

GATRA Executive Director Francis Gay was not available for comment Friday.

An anonymous letter being circulated around town is pushing riders to show up at public hearings next week and sign petitions.

"As many tax-paying, frustrated commuters as possible should both flock to Attleboro City Hall on February 19 and sign petitions that are now being circulated at various soup kitchens, the letter said.

The Attleboro meeting will be at 10 a.m. in city hall, while a meeting in the North Attleboro Senior Center will be held at 2 p.m.

Routes scheduled to be eliminated include Route 15 (Oakhill) in Attleboro and Route 17 (North Attleboro Shuttle) in North Attleboro.

Route 15 has stops at Oakhill Trailer Park, LaSalette Shrine and Hope Gardens.

Route 17 has stops at Emerald Square, Stop and Shop, Triboro Plaza and Circle Court.

Meanwhile, GATRA aims to end Saturday service for Route 16, which runs from Attleboro to Seekonk, and Route 24, which runs from Attleboro to Pawtucket. GATRA also intends to end service for all routes at 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A Route 15 cut will affect as many as 300 people a month who eat at a LaSalette soup kitchen, said a rider who urged GATRA to consider using smaller less expensive buses to cut costs.

"Surely there are some alternatives to some of the proposals being touted by the powers that be at GATRA," he said.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.