Johnson County commissioners direct staff to fold ADA paratransit recommendations into draft strategic transit plan

Johnson County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Kelly on Thursday directed staff to incorporate consultant recommendations on paratransit into the county’s draft strategic transit plan, after a committee-of-the-whole presentation that described how implementing higher-frequency fixed routes will trigger federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit obligations.

The direction came after a presentation from Andrea Ostradka, a consultant with Tool Design Group, and county transit staff that recommended providing ADA complimentary paratransit within a three-quarter‑mile buffer of fixed routes during the same days and hours as those routes; standardizing eligibility using federal ADA criteria; and continuing an optional countywide non‑ADA paratransit layer funded and managed by the county.

The recommendations matter because raising fixed-route frequency on corridors such as Metcalf would legally require the county to offer ADA complimentary paratransit in the service area. Ostradka told commissioners that ADA requires complementary paratransit within three quarters of a mile of fixed routes, operating the same days and hours as those routes, and limiting fares to no more than twice the fixed-route fare.

County mobility director Lisa Womack said the county’s existing paratransit model grew into a hybrid, countywide program after 2018 and now both serves broader travel needs and produces operational inefficiencies. "We have a really great team and really great partners who make what we do possible every day, and I'm proud of the service that we run and put on the street and the people that we serve," Womack said, adding, "I know we can and do a lot better, and I'm so excited about today's conversation."

Consultants and staff outlined differences between required ADA ("complimentary") paratransit and the county’s current optional non‑ADA services. ADA paratransit must be provided within a 3/4‑mile buffer of fixed routes and cannot be denied when the fixed route criteria are met, while optional non‑ADA service allows the county discretion over service area, hours, fares and attendant policies. The county currently operates three paratransit programs: RideKC Freedom (scheduled service), Freedom on Demand (microtransit‑style), and SWIFT (for clients of Johnson County developmental services), each with different eligibility processes.

The presentation included operational context: paratransit costs account for more than $5,000,000 of Johnson County’s annual transit operating expenditures, ridership has been growing since the county expanded service in 2018 and again after pandemic-era adjustments, and some riders shifted to paratransit after microtransit costs rose in 2024. Consultants said about half of current paratransit trips already fall inside the proposed ADA bubble and that standardizing eligibility and bringing eligibility determination in‑house or contracting it centrally would reduce complexity for riders and staff.

Staff cautioned that implementing ADA complimentary paratransit creates permanent obligations. As one staff member explained, once ADA‑level paratransit is required and provided, the county ‘‘can never turn it off again as long as you're running transit service.’’ County staff also noted potential cross‑jurisdictional obligations: when fixed routes cross county lines, the ADA requirement can obligate service to nonresidents who are within the three‑quarter‑mile buffer.

Commissioners asked for more detailed ridership audits and data. Staff said transit staff and mobility coordinator Lisa Womack have begun a person‑level rider audit to verify current eligibility and understand who would be affected; they reported the audit was roughly 60–70% complete and committed to sharing preliminary findings in advance of later budget, finance and organizational discussions.

After discussion, a motion to incorporate the paratransit recommendations into the draft strategic transit plan was seconded and approved on a recorded roll call: Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Ashcraft, Allenbrand and Chair Kelly voted in favor; none voted against. The board directed staff to include the paratransit recommendations when the strategic plan is returned for additional review of finance, branding and organization.

Votes at a glance

Motion: Incorporate paratransit recommendations (ADA complimentary paratransit within 3/4 mile of fixed routes; standardized ADA‑based eligibility; continued optional countywide non‑ADA service) into the draft strategic transit plan for further review (finance, branding, organization).

Mover: not specified in record. Second: Commissioner Allenbrand.

Outcome: approved (6–0). Recorded ayes: Commissioner Fast; Commissioner Myers; Commissioner Brewer; Commissioner Ashcraft; Commissioner Allenbrand; Chair Mike Kelly. Absent: Commissioner Hanslick.

Context and next steps

Staff and consultants will return to the committee to present financing, branding and organizational recommendations and a consolidated strategic plan for formal consideration at a Board of County Commissioners meeting. Staff emphasized that cost impacts associated with implementing ADA paratransit are estimates at this stage: forecasting ADA demand in a system that has not previously provided full ADA‑complimentary service requires assumptions, and staff said they would present more detailed budget impacts in the finance discussion.

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