Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Service Ridership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
KTA schedules public hearing on two route changes as staff reports slight ridership dip
Summary
At a KTA meeting, Director Thor reported a roughly 3% ridership decline and 85.4% on-time performance; the authority will publish notice for a public hearing next month on changes to the downtown connector and Route 16 and commissioners discussed forming a subcommittee to explore a possible transit funding referendum.
The KTA voted to approve last month’s minutes and met substantive business including an update on system performance and the scheduling of a public hearing next month on two route changes.
Director Thor, the authority’s director, told commissioners, “We did see a slight decrease in ridership last month. Little out of the norm for the last 24 months,” and said the system remains “at 85.4% for on time performance.” Thor said staff will investigate the roughly 3% decline—“we're gonna dig into that and have more information at the next meeting.”
The board was told it will publish notice for a public hearing on two proposed route changes: the downtown connector and Route 16. Thor said the board had discussed the changes previously and that the public hearing will take place at the next meeting; the chair confirmed the next meeting date as July 24. The hearing is being scheduled under “Title 6,” according to staff comments during the meeting.
Commissioners also discussed forming a small subcommittee to study broader funding and service ideas, including whether a transit referendum modeled on Nashville’s approach could be appropriate in the longer term. One commissioner said the subcommittee would be set up by the chair and noted such subcommittees have typically been three to four members and must comply with open-meetings rules. The chair said the formation of a subcommittee would not require a motion and could be initiated by the chair at the appropriate time.
Other items during the meeting included commissioner announcements: one commissioner promoted a community outreach event hosted by the nonprofit Yes Knoxville at several local venues to gather rider input and ideas for system maps and bus-shelter design. A different commissioner said they had made an effort to ride the bus since joining the authority and described a positive experience.
No formal action was taken on the route proposals at this meeting; the only recorded formal vote in the transcript approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Staff and commissioners indicated they will return with further analysis on ridership trends and a full presentation on the route changes at the next meeting.
