Owensboro Transit System officials are recommending an update to three of their routes along with adding three new transfer hubs to their current routes. A public hearing is schedule for 5 p.m. May 23 at City Hall to gather the community’s input regarding the proposed modifications.
The main recommendations include increasing the utilization and enhancing the effectiveness of the bus routes and most importantly access to jobs around town.
The proposed Green route would serve Ragu Drive in both directions, which will allow workers at the plants and factories in that area direct access to the transit system. Additionally, the Yellow route would be modified to serve Airpark Drive — a new addition to the transit system. The proposed new Violet route would also service Airpark Drive and would travel along Tamarack Road, Lewis Lane, Scherm Road, Booth Avenue and Frederica Street.
Violet and Yellow will have an overlap in their routes at Airpark Drive, which would be one of two new transfer areas for riders to switch routes instead of having to ride back to the bus station. There would be an additional transfer station with the Pink and Green routes on Hwy 54 at Villa Pointe.
The current White route would experience the most updates under the proposal.
“The white route has the lowest number of riders historically,” Transit Manager Pamela Canary said Tuesday during the Owensboro City Commission meeting. “For example, the total number of riders on White last fiscal year was only 12,000 out of 213,000.”
On the White route, no stops had more than a daily average of three riders joining except the hospital.
So, under the proposal, the White route will be removed from OTS services but the Pink route will be providing access to the hospital by way of Gateway Commons. This modification will also help one of the most popular routes, Green, from getting so busy that it runs behind.
“When it arrives late it can hold up other routes from leaving the station,” Canary said.
It was also recommended that OTS not extend its hours, as it would increase the costs of operations. Canary said that they are open to the idea of making extended hours; however, it would have to be an issue the public brings up.
Mayor Tom Watson said that he hopes to be able to find a way to provide a second-shift service route to ensure that some of the people in the community get to work efficiently.
“I’m going to try and find some solution to that because we have some Afghan [refugees] that would work at those places,” Watson said.
The public hearing will take place in the Commission Chambers on the fourth floor of Owensboro City Hall (101 E. 4th Street).
To review specific information and view a map of the proposed route modifications, visit transit.owensboro.org.
Written comments will be accepted through May 16 and may be sent to Attn: Pamela Canary, Transit Manager, Owensboro Transit System, 430 Allen Street, Owensboro, Kentucky, 42303. They can also be sent via email to [email protected].
