Public transportation concerns were addressed during a meeting held in Trenton on Wednesday, June 6.
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission hosted the meeting, which was attended by eight persons. According to RPC Assistant Executive Director Jackie Soptic, OATS regional director Beth Lavely as well as representatives from local entities whose clients use the local public transportation services, were among those making comments.
The main concern expressed by those attending, according to Mrs. Soptic, was the lack of public transportation available after 4 o’clock in the afternoons during the week as well on the weekends. In addition, those living outside of Trenton have no access to those services.
While additional money to provide those services would help, it was noted that OATS funding comes from the federal level and is limited, with the state matching a percentage through the Missouri Department of Transportation. Mrs. Soptic said that the Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging has a program where volunteers can provide transportation for non-emergency medical trips to the city and be reimbursed. While there are volunteers in several areas of the NWMAA region, Grundy County does not have any at this time. Mrs. Soptic suggested that persons who would be interested in providing this service contact the agency at 1-888-844-5626.
Regional planning commissions throughout the state are contracted by the Missouri Department of Transportation to collect information about public transportation issues, which is then included in a plan used by MoDOT to obtain federal funding. Federal law requires the plan to be updated every five years.
The RPC has a public transit customer survey and is asking residents to fill it out and return it to the commission. A hard copy of the survey can be obtained by contacting Mrs. Soptic at the RPC, 660-359-5636, ext. 12 or at [email protected].
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