Consultant outlines WAMPO-area transit alternatives for Sedgwick County

Consultant Bill Trove told Sedgwick County commissioners the WAMPO-area transit study considers a broad set of alternatives — from expanded county demand-response trips to regional express and vanpool options — and that the county’s role is likely to remain focused on demand-response service for the general public.

"Sedgwick County Transportation is general public transportation," Trove said, adding that many residents still perceive county service as only for seniors or people with disabilities. He described demand-response as the primary county mode: customers reserve a trip in advance, a dispatcher designs the itinerary and vehicles perform origin-to-destination legs that can include intermediate stops.

Trove said the packet provided to commissioners includes potential ridership estimates, annual cost estimates and a breakout of which jurisdiction would be expected to provide the local match. He urged elected officials to encourage their municipalities to review the packet and complete a jurisdictions survey that has returned only 9–10 responses so far.

The presentation framed three primary needs driving alternatives: better connections between outlying communities and Wichita job centers, higher accessibility within nonmetropolitan communities for midday needs (groceries, medical trips) and service to growing employment centers outside Wichita. Trove said final recommendations will depend on both public input and whether individual jurisdictions want to be providers or partners in particular alternatives.

The study also includes regional commuter routes intended to feed Wichita Transit at the Downtown Transit Center, but Trove said the county would likely not operate longer fixed-route commuter services without originating-community participation.