Topeka – City busses will stay on Topeka’s streets on nights and weekends at least a little while longer.

At its meeting Monday evening, the Topeka Transit Authority board decided to delay its decision to end evening and Sunday service until at least Memorial Day.

Funding shortfalls initially had Topeka Transit poised to end those services April 1. The deadline was pushed back to April 22 before Monday’s action delayed it even further.

The board plans to ask the Topeka City Council to increase its mil levy cap. They say the limit hasn’t been raised since 1994.

Both the board and bus users agree how important the service is.

Ami Hyten with Topeka Independent Living Resource Center says many clients depend on public transportation to get to their jobs. She says the issue that must take priority since it is key to creating an economically viable community.

Board president Neta Jeffus agrees. She says transportation is the hub of a community. She says public transportation should be involved in any discussions on economic development.

The board dipped into its capital funds to keep the service going. That money had been set aside to match any federal grants they would get to replace their aging bus fleet, so Jeffus says it could become an even greater issue down the road if a new funding stream isn’t identified.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

9am Friday, April 17
408 SW Jackson

Concerns over keeping a strong bus service in Topeka brought people together Tuesday.

Topeka Independent Living Resource Center held a meeting to update its clients on possible cuts in Topeka Transit routes.

Topeka Transit was poised to end evening and Sunday service April 1st, but has now delayed that until at least April 22nd while it explores other funding options.

The Center’s executive director Mike Oxford says they’d like to see the cap on city property tax funding for Topeka Transit lifted. He says the organization also believes community and government leaders should come together to develop a long-range plan. He says the plan needs to include all possible sources of funding so that Topeka Transit doesn’t find itself in a crisis, asking for more tax dollars, every few years.

Transit officials were to meet with Topeka City Council members Tuesday night to talk about planning and funding options.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Topeka Transit hopes some extra funding from the City will help prevent making more cuts to the operation.

Board members met Friday at an emergency work session to discuss what can be done to help prevent them from putting Phase Two into action – this means buses would come every hour rather than half hour.

Phase One begins April 1, which means Topeka Transit will no longer provide bus service after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays or at all on Sundays.

Transit officials say things like bus repair, replacement needs and the sluggish economy add up to costs they cannot keep up with.

Jack Alexander, Transit Authority board member, said, “We don’t want to have to do what we’ve already made the decision to do, and that’s start scaling back. We’re now wanting to educate the council in hopes that they have ideas that they could join us in keeping the system running.”

Board members will meet with Topeka city council members to discuss additional funding.

Community members met tonight for the last of four public hearing meetings at the Topeka Transit Quincy Station. The meetings give Topekans a chance to voice their opinions about the possibility of route changes. Starting April first, there will no longer be bus service on weekdays after 6:30 PM or on Sundays at all. The board says without additional funding, there is not much they can do.

The group, “Topekans in Support of Public Transit”, will give recommendations to city council at their weekly meeting.