By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
OCCK Transportation introduced a phase 2 CityGo fixed-bus route system last month to increase efficiency and reliability and better align services with current usage patterns.
The City of Salina will need to approve this route system that consists of changes to hours of service and the current five fixed routes.
This will be heard during Monday's City Commission meeting.
According to OCCK, the Purple 1 route will no longer serve the Centennial and Schilling area. These areas will be served by a new route called "Orange 6."
Here are more of the changes:
Hours of Service
Start time of Peak Routes will be adjusted to 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
Orange 6 *New*
The *new* Orange 6 route will serve the growing South/Southwest area and industrial corridor of Salina. Orange 6 will run in a loop along Centennial, Schilling, Magnolia, and 9th Street, with transfer stops at Planet Avenue Dillon’s and Walmart.
Purple 1
The Purple 1 route will no longer serve the Centennial and Schilling area. These areas will be serviced by the Orange 6 route.
Yellow 2
Discontinuation of service to the Ash & Oakdale stop. This stop will be serviced by the Blue 5 route.
Green 3
No changes.
Red 4
Discontinuation of service to the Kenwood Cove & YMCA stops. These stops will be serviced by the Blue 5 route.
Blue 5
The Blue 5 route will run as it does currently, with the unpublished half of the route added to the map.
OCCK is in a public-private partnership with the City of Salina. OCCK manages the daily operations of the fixed bus route system
The City’s responsibilities are to review and officially approve all revised bus routes, transit layouts, and major bus stop locations before they are implemented.
Moreover, the city provides the overarching network of roads and the physical space for public transportation. They are responsible for maintaining and upgrading public right-of-ways, while ensuring buses have safe access for fixed stops.
Both entities work with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to maintain and expand local transit.
“We’re excited to bring this expansion to the fixed routes to get people closer to their desired destinations,” said Trell Grinter, Director of OCCK, Inc. Transportation. “This expansion is all about opening up new opportunities, connecting more people and moving Salina forward.”
Full details and map routes about the proposed changes are available here.