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Knox County transit reports rising ridership after route changes, but faces staffing, budget and fleet pressures
Summary
Knox County Transit reported weekly ridership increases after new fixed routes launched, but officials warned a 12.5% funding cut, three eliminated driver positions and aging vehicles are constraining on‑demand availability and vehicle replacement plans.
Bethany, presenting for Knox County Transit, told commissioners on Sept. 30 that weekly ridership rose from roughly 1,400–1,500 trips in August to about 1,796 the week of Sept. 8–12 after schools reopened. “We had about, we kinda we’re around 1,500 to 1,400 trips each week in August,” she said.
The increase reflects a shift the agency is trying to encourage from on‑demand trips to fixed routes, Bethany said, though demand for on‑demand service remains. A commissioner asked whether the trend was an anomaly or a lasting change; Bethany replied the system is “quickly changing,” adding that she estimated only “1 to 2% of our riders that are not making that transition.”
At the same time, Knox County Transit is operating with reduced staff after a 12.5% cut to its fiscal‑year…
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