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Independence, MO —
After looking over the maps for the new integrated transit system in Independence, Marcie Gragg’s children want to make a mini-day trip out of riding the new buses.
Gragg, the District 1 City Council member, said Monday night that her children want to ride from their western Independence home to Independence Center mall along 39th Street. When the new system – IndeBus – officially goes live next Monday, Gragg said she wants to see the buses serving more than just current customers.
“I’m hopeful that more than providing service to our current customers, it does that job of meeting the goal of increasing ridership,” said Gragg, who served as chairwoman last summer of the ad-hoc council Transit Committee.
More than 130 riders participated Saturday in the city’s Try-A-Ride Day in which the brand-new buses with First Transit were run along the new routes. The routes are keeping the color-designated names used under the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority system, but the local routes also provide service to areas that previously didn’t have public transportation.
One example is the Silver Route, which under the current system, was only in operation two days a week. With IndeBus, the Silver Route will run six days a week, serving high-traffic areas in eastern Independence like the Bass Pro Shops-anchored The Falls at Crackerneck Creek, Eastland Center and the Independence Events Center.
The biggest route changes, however, are taking place on the opposite end of town in far northwestern Independence, said Jennifer Clark, the city’s director of Community Development. Currently, that route follows nearly parallel to the KCATA 24 Route along the Square, Truman Road, Englewood and Fairmount.
Under the new plan, the Orange Route will serve the shopping areas at Truman Road and Sterling Avenue, Fairmount Elementary School, the NorthWest Communities Development Corporation/Fairmount Community Service, and others, as well as including a fixed deviated route in which riders may call dispatch the day before and schedule a ride if they don’t live within walking distance from the fixed route.
“We felt we didn’t need to duplicate service,” Clark said of improving the Orange Route. “We needed to provide additional service to the riders.”
The city will continuously monitor the new system, taking suggestions from riders, and will make improvements along the way as needed, Clark said.
“This is a major step forward for our transit system,” Mayor Don Reimal said. “I think when the folks get acclimated to the new routes, they’re really going to like what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
At the council’s study session Monday night, At-Large Council Member and Transit Committee member Jim Schultz told Clark he had already received a suggestion that the city and First Transit consider making a pass card of some kind for teenagers. Clark said city staff would look into it.
“With this particular program,” Schultz told Clark, “I think you’ve positively hit a home run – no doubt about it.”
After looking over the maps for the new integrated transit system in Independence, Marcie Gragg’s children want to make a mini-day trip out of riding the new buses.
Gragg, the District 1 City Council member, said Monday night that her children want to ride from their western Independence home to Independence Center mall along 39th Street. When the new system – IndeBus – officially goes live next Monday, Gragg said she wants to see the buses serving more than just current customers.
“I’m hopeful that more than providing service to our current customers, it does that job of meeting the goal of increasing ridership,” said Gragg, who served as chairwoman last summer of the ad-hoc council Transit Committee.
More than 130 riders participated Saturday in the city’s Try-A-Ride Day in which the brand-new buses with First Transit were run along the new routes. The routes are keeping the color-designated names used under the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority system, but the local routes also provide service to areas that previously didn’t have public transportation.
One example is the Silver Route, which under the current system, was only in operation two days a week. With IndeBus, the Silver Route will run six days a week, serving high-traffic areas in eastern Independence like the Bass Pro Shops-anchored The Falls at Crackerneck Creek, Eastland Center and the Independence Events Center.
The biggest route changes, however, are taking place on the opposite end of town in far northwestern Independence, said Jennifer Clark, the city’s director of Community Development. Currently, that route follows nearly parallel to the KCATA 24 Route along the Square, Truman Road, Englewood and Fairmount.
Under the new plan, the Orange Route will serve the shopping areas at Truman Road and Sterling Avenue, Fairmount Elementary School, the NorthWest Communities Development Corporation/Fairmount Community Service, and others, as well as including a fixed deviated route in which riders may call dispatch the day before and schedule a ride if they don’t live within walking distance from the fixed route.
“We felt we didn’t need to duplicate service,” Clark said of improving the Orange Route. “We needed to provide additional service to the riders.”
The city will continuously monitor the new system, taking suggestions from riders, and will make improvements along the way as needed, Clark said.
“This is a major step forward for our transit system,” Mayor Don Reimal said. “I think when the folks get acclimated to the new routes, they’re really going to like what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
At the council’s study session Monday night, At-Large Council Member and Transit Committee member Jim Schultz told Clark he had already received a suggestion that the city and First Transit consider making a pass card of some kind for teenagers. Clark said city staff would look into it.
“With this particular program,” Schultz told Clark, “I think you’ve positively hit a home run – no doubt about it.”
