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Rider criticizes route design and idling; KTA staff explain recovery time, real-time info and outreach plans
Summary
A public commenter urged the board to reexamine route design and downtown connector routing, saying buses sit idle and routes don't serve shopping areas; staff explained schedules include built-in 'recovery' time, said they monitor timing, noted many buses and the transit app provide real-time next-stop info, and outlined planned outreach including a 'Ride the Roots' pilot.
At the public forum, Renee Christian told the board the routes "just don't make any sense" for riders, saying buses on the Magnolia and downtown routes sometimes sit idling for long periods and that routes do not stop in front of nearby shopping destinations. Christian suggested commissioners ride the downtown loop to experience the routes firsthand.
Board members followed with questions about drivers pulling over and taking breaks and whether that affected service reliability. Speaker 4 (staff) responded that schedules include built-in "recovery" time to account for variable conditions; supervisors are sometimes sent to talk with people at stops to determine if they plan to board and to ensure they are not distracting passengers. Speaker 9 added that schedules allow for recovery based on route type and ridership levels and that staff periodically review timing to see how early or late buses are running.
Staff explained why operators may wait at time points instead of departing early: to avoid leaving potential riders behind and to maintain on-time performance. Speaker 10 noted the agency periodically reassesses timing and that some routes (e.g., Route 23) are low-ridership 'coverage' routes, which can show more early/idle time between scheduled points.
Board members also asked about passenger information. Staff said many buses display next-stop and estimated arrival times on vehicle screens and that the transit app provides real-time predictions; staff committed to check where dynamic timing is not showing and to display that information more broadly. Staff also noted a monthly passenger newsletter and travel-training opportunities and agreed to share the newsletter with the board and city officials.
Speaker 5 earlier described a planned outreach pilot, "Ride the Roots with the KTA," proposing monthly, publicly noticed rides of specific routes starting mid-to-late March and running through September to gather rider feedback and build understanding.
The discussion blended public comment, passenger experience, operations explanation and a commitment to better communication and outreach; staff asked the board for patience as new operators complete training and for time to adjust timing and displays fleetwide.
