Welcome to Wichita Transit Talks! We want to hear your ideas about how we could update the vision for transit in the Wichita area. We’re listening to thoughts from people who live, work, and play across the Metro. We have a new website that will be running through January 26th to specifically gather input through an online townhall forum. Go to www.wichitatransittalks.com to get involved in the conversation.
Faced with budget cuts, Wichita Transit began reaching out to the community during the summer and fall of 2011, talking to riders and nonriders alike to better understand their perspectives on the future of transit in the Metro. The process will build on the input gathered thus far and combine it with the results of the latest transit survey to create a brand new vision that meets the Metro’s transit needs and is responsive to our tight budget.
Updating the Vision
Input from the community, Facebook, and the survey have been used to develop a series of transit improvement scenarios that illustrate the vision. Wichita Transit has presented the improvement scenarios to the community at open houses and in our online town hall forum at www.wichitatransittalks.com to gather feedback. Later, the vision will be finalized based on the feedback, and a policy document will be developed to support it. Presentations will be made to the Wichita Transit Advisory Board, City Council, and Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE ALTERNATIVES BELOW AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY VOTING ON THESE ALTERNATIVES.
Alternative A - Grid System Coverage
Concept
Frequency
Operational characteristics
Summary
RTF file - Concept A map
Alternative B - Performance Hub & Spoke System
Concept
Frequency
Operational characteristics
Summary
RTF file - Concept B map
Alternative C - Static Funding System
Concept
Description
Frequency
RTF file - Concept C map
Alternative D - Outlying Communities
Local
Peak
Operational characteristics
Summary
RTF file - Concept D map
Financing the Future System
Like many transit agencies, Wichita Transit is currently financed with dollars from rider fares, state grants, federal grants, and the City’s General Fund. With those funds, the current 17-route hub-and-spoke system is running as efficiently as possible. Additional funds are needed to improve service, for example, to provide longer operating hours and higher frequencies. The latest citizen transit survey asks the community if there is support for a sales tax, property tax, gasoline tax, or motor vehicle registration fees to support expanded public transportation for the City of Wichita. If such a tax were then proposed during a city election or ballot initiative and approved, the added revenue could be used to help bring the vision for transit a few steps closer to reality.
Send us Your Thoughts
What are your ideas, questions, thoughts, or concerns about transit in the Wichita area? Share them with us through Facebook, email us at wichitatransit@wichita.gov, or mail them to:
777 E. Waterman
Wichita, KS 67202