Title
Presentation: Existing transit services and renewal of transit contracts.
Body
Issue/Request:
Discuss existing transit service and renewal of transit contracts for 2023.
Key Issues:
• The City of Lee’s Summit contracts annually with KCATA and OATS to provide transit service to Lee's Summit residents.
• The City received $3,751,725 in Federal CARES Act Funding for Transit, intended and obligated to pay for transit operating assistance from January 20, 2020, to March 31, 2025 (and the procurement of OATS operated replacement vehicles).
• Current transit services include on-demand and a fixed route commuter express service with limited operation to/from downtown Kansas City.
• Current transit service contracts are in effect, through executed renewals, through December 2023.
• Transit expansions for traditional fixed routes, as previously recommended by KCATA and City Staff through Transit Demand Studies, have had continuing discussion with collaboration of adjacent impacted and potentially participating agencies. Funding these new routes remains a significant barrier to implementation.
Background:
This presentation intends to generate awareness regarding existing transit services provided by the City of Lee's Summit, highlight those operations, describe ridership experience and demand, outline funding, and summarize the prior discussions in consideration of future transit contracts and expansion. Transit supports transportation alternatives, Livable Streets Policy and the Ignite! Strategic Plan.
Although transit is a priority, the lack of identified funds to support and sustain any new or expanded transit service(s) has deferred any direction to propose such new or expanded transit service(s).
Presenter
Susan Barry, City Traffic Engineer