Johnson County transit manager outlines ridership gains, Saturday expansion and software relaunch

AJ Arjanan, general manager of City County Transportation, told the Commissioners Court that ridership climbed in 2025 and the agency is pursuing service and technology improvements to make county transit more reliable and accessible.

Arjanan said the system saw an 8.4% increase in passenger trips in 2025 (roughly 1,700 trips) and that December recorded a 45% year‑over‑year ridership increase. He said 68% of trips are for elderly and disabled riders and about 27% require mobility‑device assistance.

Funding and operations: The FY2026 budget is $1,970,000, Arjanan said, funded by the Federal Transit Administration via TxDOT, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), and participating cities. He said 80% of expenses are labor and fringe; remaining line items include maintenance and supplies.

Service changes and technology: Arjanan described expanding limited Saturday service countywide and said three new buses funded by an NCTCOG grant are expected in March. He emphasized a new scheduling software with a mobile app and web portal to allow riders to book trips directly; the change is intended to reduce caller hold times (currently often one hour) and increase productivity by an estimated 50%.

Local collaboration and next steps: Arjanan asked for partner cities and commissioners to help publicize the relaunch, estimated for April, and said the agency is starting targeted outreach to medical providers and employers to coordinate trips (for example, dialysis patients) on days when cities might otherwise be closed. Commissioners asked about vehicle type; Arjanan confirmed the three new buses are gasoline‑powered, not autonomous or fully electric.

The court thanked Arjanan and encouraged further coordination with cities and the Council of Governments to pursue additional funding for technology and future vehicle purchases.