Local transit official reports ridership gains and outlines plan for a deviated route in Connerville

A transit agency representative reported strong ridership gains and outlined early plans for a 'deviated route' pilot in Connerville.

Speaker 12 told commissioners agency ridership rose 80.63% across the system and that Fayette County accounted for 41% of the agency’s trips. She said the 2026 grant award totals $1,183,000 covering Fayette, Union and Rowland counties, with the federal portion at $591,512 and the state portion $197,739; the balance will require a local match.

On service design, Speaker 12 described a 'deviated route' as a scheduled route with mapped points of interest and defined off‑route deviation allowances (for example, 0.8 miles to 2 miles) so drivers can pick up clients between scheduled stops. She said economic development has been supportive and that the agency plans to meet in mid‑April to begin mapping points of interest and to prepare numbers for grant applications and local match discussions.

Speaker 12 said more analysis is needed to determine the local match cost and that federal and state funding opportunities may be available. Commissioners asked staff to continue work and to bring more detailed cost estimates and grant plans to future meetings.

Next steps: staff will pursue grant season planning, meet with local partners to map the route, and return with cost and grant match estimates.