The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) is hiring.

Steven Koegel, vice president of communications and business planning at Centro, said the need for drivers is critical.

"We are in desperate need of bus operators in Syracuse," said Koegel. "Not only do we want to continue the service that we're offering, we want to expand our bus services, but we need more bus operators in order to do that."

Centro is also hiring in Oswego, Utica and Auburn, but Koegel said those areas are stable in operators since those regions require fewer drivers overall.

The transportation agency held an open house event earlier this month where prospective drivers had the chance to drive a Centro bus on a closed course to see if it was a career path they wanted to pursue.

Koegel said Centro bus drivers make an average of $50,000 or edificios en construccion more a year, and bus operators only need a high school degree.