Owensboro Transit System Manager Pamela Canary on Tuesday discussed the results of an equity analysis that evaluated how proposed route changes would impact communities of color. She noted that there are minor decreases in coverage with the proposal.
The first recommended new network would drop the OTS service area from 34.40 to 33.12 square miles and service 59,877 people.
A second proposal would update the existing network to eliminate the White route and add new Green and Pink routes along with a stop at the Daviess County Detention Center. This proposal would drop the OTS service area slightly less, from 34.40 to 33.90 square miles, and it would service 61,000 people.
Households with older adults would see a 1.7% decrease in coverage under the first proposal, compared to a .8% drop under the second route.
Minority communities specifically are seeing a 1.7% decrease in coverage in the first recommended route however they are seeing a .4% decrease on the second route.
Households in poverty would see a .8% and .1% drop under the first and second proposals, respectively.
Canary said OTS is in the process of updating its handouts and information to have languages for members of the international community to utilize while using their services. She said there sometimes is a slight language barrier between drivers and passengers, but that the international center often helps communicate with transit workers in the office. The additional handouts will be geared to help the Congolese, Afghan and Somali refugees.
Additionally, Canary confirmed it is not feasible to extend the services to a second shift. She said that even if it was feasible financially, she isn’t sure that the transit system can man another shift were they to add another one.
“We’ve had the consultants look at additional hours and it just isn’t efficient, and I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s not efficient and right now we’re having difficulty with manpower and we’re short drivers and constantly shuffling people trying to cover routes,” Canary said.
