(KTTS News) — City Utilities is considering making some changes to its bus services.
After going over the results of a study, it wants to provide more consistent route coverage from Monday through Friday and more coverage on Saturday.
Monday to Saturday service would end at 10 p.m.
Sunday service times would run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The improvements would cost an extra $200,000 to $250,000 per year.
CU would also like to drop fares from $1.25 to $1.
Any change in the fares will require the approval process involving the City Utilities Citizens Advisory Council, Board of Public Utilities, and City Council.
Press Release
The ConnectSGF City Utilities Transit Optimization Study is complete, and City Utilities Transit Services staff is now looking toward implementing several recommendations outlined in the study.
Connect SGF is a planning project which began in 2022 to improve “The Bus” service operated by City Utilities.
The project, led by a consultant team at the engineering and design firm Olsson, looked at existing transit services and developed recommendations to better connect the Springfield community.
Public and stakeholder engagement were central to the ConnectSGF process and the recommendations by CU staff reflect the input received. Recommendations include:
- Expand coverage in evenings to provide consistent route coverage all day Monday-Friday.
- Increase frequency resulting in approximately 29 additional service hours per week.
- More route coverage on Saturday.
- All weekday routes utilizing the Transit Center would offer 30-minute frequency from 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The estimated cost to implement these improvements is between $200,000 to $250,000 per year.
In addition to the improvements above, City Utilities is also recommending modifying Monday-Saturday service to end at 10 p.m., modify Sunday service to 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and the elimination of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day service.
City Utilities management and the board expressed support for a 20% reduction in fares, including a base fare reduction from $1.25 to $1.00, however, such a change will require the approval process involving the City Utilities Citizens Advisory Council, Board of Public Utilities, and City Council.
The full Transit Optimization Study is available at ConnectSGF.
