|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Instead of referring to them as “problems” or “issues,” the head of Independence’s new local bus system is calling the challenging circumstances “opportunities.”
“We’ve had a lot of good times these past two weeks, and we’ve had a lot of opportunities,” said Rene Pokrzywinski, general manager of IndeBus for First Transit, Monday night to the City Council. Pokrzywinski updated council members on the new intracity bus system that went live on July 2. “... There’s been some difficulties, and we’ve experienced them along with the passengers. The passengers are used to what they used to ride, and that, in and of itself, has proved to probably be the No. 1 difficulty.”
Through the former system with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, she said, riders are used to always meeting at the MetroCenter off of the Square.
“It is a little different now,” Pokrzywinski said. “Working through that piece, it’s going to take a little bit of time. The information I have from passengers is that it doesn’t really make sense to them.”
Connection times with the buses, especially at the Midwest Genealogy Center on Lee’s Summit Road and at Centerpoint Medical Center, also need improvement, Pokrzywinski said. The first week of service under IndeBus definitely had a learning curve, she added, but things smoothed out a bit last week.
“Passengers are calling in. They’re telling us what those problems are, and we’re addressing those as quickly as we can,” Pokrzywinski said.
The transition between using passes from KCATA and with IndeBus also is an area for improvement.
“It seemed simple when we put it out, but passengers, on the very first day, experienced some difficulty understanding both the brochure and what the brochure meant,” Pokrzywinski said. “When they got on the bus with that pass, the last thing we wanted to do was strand anybody, so we’ve been growing through that with the passengers, in helping them understand what we can take and what KCATA can take.”
IndeBus is working to improve its phone system to make it more user-friendly for riders. Those who have questions and issues can call 816-461-IBUS (4287).
City Manager Robert Heacock suggested that the City Council’s Transit Committee possibly continue to meet and involve public input as IndeBus settles into the city. The Transit Committee, comprised of District 1 Council Member Marcie Gragg, District 3 Council Member Myron Paris and At-Large Council Member Jim Schultz, met with city staff and riders last summer and explored ways to improve the bus system, facing a reduction in funding from KCATA.
“This system is flexible, and we need to design it to the meet the riders’ needs,” Heacock said. “We really hope that people will see that their concerns are being listened to and that they will call in and let First Transit know their concerns.”
Instead of referring to them as “problems” or “issues,” the head of Independence’s new local bus system is calling the challenging circumstances “opportunities.”
“We’ve had a lot of good times these past two weeks, and we’ve had a lot of opportunities,” said Rene Pokrzywinski, general manager of IndeBus for First Transit, Monday night to the City Council. Pokrzywinski updated council members on the new intracity bus system that went live on July 2. “... There’s been some difficulties, and we’ve experienced them along with the passengers. The passengers are used to what they used to ride, and that, in and of itself, has proved to probably be the No. 1 difficulty.”
Through the former system with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, she said, riders are used to always meeting at the MetroCenter off of the Square.
“It is a little different now,” Pokrzywinski said. “Working through that piece, it’s going to take a little bit of time. The information I have from passengers is that it doesn’t really make sense to them.”
Connection times with the buses, especially at the Midwest Genealogy Center on Lee’s Summit Road and at Centerpoint Medical Center, also need improvement, Pokrzywinski said. The first week of service under IndeBus definitely had a learning curve, she added, but things smoothed out a bit last week.
“Passengers are calling in. They’re telling us what those problems are, and we’re addressing those as quickly as we can,” Pokrzywinski said.
The transition between using passes from KCATA and with IndeBus also is an area for improvement.
“It seemed simple when we put it out, but passengers, on the very first day, experienced some difficulty understanding both the brochure and what the brochure meant,” Pokrzywinski said. “When they got on the bus with that pass, the last thing we wanted to do was strand anybody, so we’ve been growing through that with the passengers, in helping them understand what we can take and what KCATA can take.”
IndeBus is working to improve its phone system to make it more user-friendly for riders. Those who have questions and issues can call 816-461-IBUS (4287).
City Manager Robert Heacock suggested that the City Council’s Transit Committee possibly continue to meet and involve public input as IndeBus settles into the city. The Transit Committee, comprised of District 1 Council Member Marcie Gragg, District 3 Council Member Myron Paris and At-Large Council Member Jim Schultz, met with city staff and riders last summer and explored ways to improve the bus system, facing a reduction in funding from KCATA.
“This system is flexible, and we need to design it to the meet the riders’ needs,” Heacock said. “We really hope that people will see that their concerns are being listened to and that they will call in and let First Transit know their concerns.”
