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New East Central Kansas mobility manager outlines public-transportation support for Miami County
Summary
Misty Williams, newly hired mobility manager funded by KDOT, briefed Miami County commissioners on travel training, interagency coordination to replace Lake Mary out-of-county service, and grant and dispatching needs to cover an added 100–200 monthly rides after Lake Mary stops service July 1.
Misty Williams, the East Central Kansas mobility manager funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation, told the Miami County Board of County Commissioners that her role is to promote and coordinate public transportation across 11 counties and 22 agencies, including Miami County.
Williams said the program provides travel training, marketing, interagency communication and assistance with large community projects. “It is a free service,” she told commissioners, and said the training helps riders learn routes, pickup and drop-off points, map reading and street-crossing safety.
The county’s immediate concern is the planned Lake Mary operator withdrawal of out‑of‑county service effective June 30, which Williams said will leave an estimated 100 to 200 extra rides per month for other providers to cover. She said she is working with Paola, Osawatomie and Louisburg agencies to negotiate coverage and investigating grant opportunities and shared dispatch software so agencies can coordinate cross‑county trips.
Commissioners and staff discussed options to reduce long round trips for medical appointments in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, including a hub-and-spoke dropoff point so Johnson County providers would take patients onward. Commissioners also suggested pursuing partnerships with PACE and other regional providers to add capacity.
Williams said expanding medical-appointment billing through Medicaid and managed care plans will require each agency to complete access steps and technical processes before those payments can be used. She described that effort as “a process” that will take additional steps with local agencies.
Ending: Williams said her first-year priorities are meeting agencies, identifying strengths and weaknesses, improving cross‑county communication and pursuing funding and dispatch solutions. She encouraged municipalities and service providers to contact her through ksrides.org or her provided contact information to schedule travel training, an event or coordination meetings.
