Board approves direction to adopt RideJOCO branding, return to fares and develop service guidelines in transit strategic plan

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners on May 8 directed staff to continue development of a strategic transit plan that includes three specific recommendations from consultants: rebrand the county system as "RideJOCO," return to collecting fares and adopt service development guidelines to guide future investments.

Tool Design Group presented the final portion of a multi-part strategic plan at a Committee of the Whole meeting, outlining branding, finance and organizational recommendations. Andrea Ostradka of Tool Design summarized the recommendations: “First is to rebrand as Bridal JOCO. Second is to return to fares, and then finally develop service development guidelines to help provide some parameters and decision making for investment in transit services going forward.” The board voted to direct staff to implement those recommendations and return with a final plan for formal adoption.

Why it matters: Johnson County Transit operates on an approximately $17 million annual operating budget; consultants estimated the foundational set of recommended next-year improvements would cost roughly $14.6 million and fit within current budget…