Geary County officials discuss linking Fort Riley to local transit with micro-rideshare pilots

Speaker 2 reported on a multi-stakeholder meeting convened with representatives including Tyler and Mason to explore transportation options connecting Fort Riley with nearby communities. The meeting discussed potential stops—including a downtown Walmart location and an early childhood center—and examined how single soldiers and families might use service to reach shopping, childcare and recreation.

"It was a really good conversation," Speaker 2 said, describing a focus on mobility for single soldiers, young families and caregivers. The group discussed a 2-step approach that pairs local partnerships with targeted funding and considered micro-rideshare as a low-cost option for shorter community trips.

Speakers flagged funding hurdles: mixing state and federal sources complicates implementation, and additional local outreach will be required to explain the public benefit. Speaker 2 said working groups are being formed and that Tyler is leading one that the speaker expects to be ready to begin meeting in January.

The discussion emphasized retention and community integration goals: participants argued improved transit could help single soldiers and young families form community ties and make off-post amenities more accessible, which officials said could support longer-term retention.

Officials did not adopt a binding plan during the meeting; next steps discussed included breaking the work into task groups, identifying partners for pilot projects and developing clearer public messaging on the costs and anticipated benefits.