By Kurtis M. Ruf, Special to The Kansas City Star

The Kansas City area, and especially Johnson County, has historically had among the country’s lowest rates of mass transit usage. Recent fuel prices and a shift in environmental attitudes, however, have turned half-empty buses into standing-room-only on many routes.

This “tipping point” has dramatically shifted priorities for Johnson County Transit and the riders it serves.

This year, ridership on The JO has jumped 39 percent. So the issue is no longer how to increase ridership, but how to get the budget and resources needed to meet the rising demand.

On Aug. 4, Johnson County Transit announced county approval for purchasing 11 new 40-foot, wheelchair-accessible buses at a cost of more than $3.75 million. But the lead-time for delivery is 12 to 15 months.

As Chuck Ferguson, deputy director of transportation, said, “Relief for standing-room-only trips won’t be immediate, but help is on the way.”

In a further effort to fulfill that promise, on Nov. 6 the Johnson County Commission approved an emergency request for $2.45 million for up to seven additional buses plus expanded service hours on five routes.

With the recent loss of a light-rail plan in Kansas City, our cities’ regional challenge will be to connect popular destination points, including workplaces, schools, shopping and recreation areas, in a logical, efficient system.

To bring in fresh dollars from other communities, our regional transit plans must mandate connection to the airport.

The JO is prepared for the new dynamics facing the county and is positioned well to meet the projected needs of this transit-deprived city.

The JO’s five-year plan calls for adding buses, routes and rapid connectors to key activity centers.

Highlights include building regional connection points, providing alternatives for downtown commutes, and offering park-and-ride lots with service throughout the day.

To provide more “added value” for riders, technology initiatives of the future will include WIFI Internet access, online trip planning and automated phone text messages when a bus is near or delayed.

Unlike the library or police department, Johnson County Transit does not receive a designated percentage of tax revenues.
To encourage community involvement we invite feedback, even complaints, from riders and other citizens.

Kurtis M. Ruf is chairman of The JO marketing committee and a partner at Ruf Strategic Solutions, a database marketing firm in Olathe. He lives in Overland Park.