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Regional transit agency seeks 15% funding bump, local matches to expand K‑18 connector and build facility
Summary
A regional transit representative asked city leaders for a 15% increase in funding (about $57,500 from Junction City) to support operations, detailed a $370,000 KDOT award to extend the K‑18 connector to Junction City (local match $41,200), and described a separate $900,000 KDOT AIC award requiring a $100,000 local match for a transit facility.
A transit agency representative requested a 15% increase in partner funding for 2026 and described awarded grants and local matches that would expand service to Junction City and fund a transit facility.
The presenter said the agency requests a 15% increase from its funding partners and estimated that equates to $57,500 for Junction City in 2026. The agency said it recently was awarded about $370,000 from KDOT to extend the K‑18 (K‑Team) connector to Junction City; that award requires a local match of roughly $41,200.
Separately, the presenter said the agency earlier secured about $900,000 from KDOT through an Access, Innovation and Collaboration (AIC) grant to build a transit facility in Junction City; the local match for that project is about $100,000. The presenter said bringing the federal and state funds into Junction City would support wages, services and local purchases.
Agency staff described service patterns and demand: fixed-route boardings concentrated at the hospital, high school, Walmart and other stops; demand‑response trips frequently serve medical appointments and grocery shopping. The presenter said 88% of the agency’s fleet is more than three years old and 44% has 150,000 miles or more, and that vehicle costs have roughly doubled since 2021.
On operations, the presenter said the agency plans to modernize dispatch software, standardize bus-stop guidelines and work with LiveWell Geary County on shelter and stop improvements. The transcript records operational discussion and questions about parking and storage; the presenter said buses are currently stored at the library but the library has asked the agency to move and that typical overnight parking runs seven to eight buses.
No formal motion or vote was recorded; commissioners asked clarifying questions about funding sources, matching requirements and potential city-owned sites for a facility.
