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KTA reports record downtown-connector ridership and full operator staffing; board discusses expansion and fare-free ideas
Summary
Staff said the Downtown Connector topped 18,000 rides last month, up 39% year over year since the route went fare-free, and reported the agency has 195 operators — the highest in recent years. Commissioners discussed footprint expansion trade-offs and an experimental fare-free First Friday concept.
KTA staff reported strong recent ridership on the Downtown Connector and told the board the agency has restored operator staffing to historically high levels, prompting discussion about service expansion and limited fare-free experiments.
Isaac, a KTA staff member, said the Downtown Connector saw more than 18,000 rides last month and that ridership is up about 39% year over year since the route was made free in December. "The Downtown Connector had its highest ridership over 18,000 rides last month," Isaac said, adding the free fare contributed to the increase.
On staffing, Isaac told the board KTA has 195 operators — "the highest we've ever had in my six years" — and said the agency plans to expand its extra board to about 40 operators and to run new operator classes monthly. He attributed the recruitment and retention gains to changes in starting wages and training practices that allow the agency to train employees to obtain a commercial driver's license.
Commissioners explored whether the Downtown Connector footprint could expand to serve growing parts of downtown, but Isaac cautioned that keeping 15-minute frequency while adding coverage requires more buses and operators and roughly doubles operating costs if headways are halved. The chair suggested a targeted experiment tied to downtown First Friday events — a limited number of fare-free days — as a way to promote ridership without committing to systemwide free fares.
Board members did not commit to a policy change; staff said any expansion would require budget approval and subsequent procurement of buses and operators.
