Union County Council on Aging reports ridership surge; proposes deviated route for Connorsville
March 02, 2026 | Fayette County School Corporation, School Boards, Indiana
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Trish Atkins of the Union County Council on Aging briefed the Connorsville Common Council on March 2 about a sharp rise in regional demand for public transportation and outlined potential service changes for Connorsville.
Atkins said the three-county service provided 21,988 total trips in 2025; 41% of those trips (about 9,041) were in Fayette County. She reported a 141% increase in revenue miles (240,000 miles) and an overall ridership increase of about 80.6% across the service area.
Funding for the year included a federal share of $591,512, a state portion of $197,739, a $10,000 local match from the city and a $20,000 local match from the county, Atkins said. The service operates a fleet of 16 vehicles with three additional vehicles expected this year and currently employs 14 drivers with several part-time staff.
Atkins proposed exploring a deviated-route pilot — a fixed-loop route that can divert a short distance to pick up riders with ADA or mobility needs — to increase same-day availability. She said a deviated route with three vehicles could create recurring pickup points every 45 minutes and help reduce multi-week booking waits for same-day medical and shopping trips.
Council members expressed interest and asked for additional details; Atkins said she will return in April with numbers and more specifics about the deviated-route concept and fleet needs.
Sources: presentation by Trish Atkins to the Connorsville Common Council, March 2, 2026.
Atkins said the three-county service provided 21,988 total trips in 2025; 41% of those trips (about 9,041) were in Fayette County. She reported a 141% increase in revenue miles (240,000 miles) and an overall ridership increase of about 80.6% across the service area.
Funding for the year included a federal share of $591,512, a state portion of $197,739, a $10,000 local match from the city and a $20,000 local match from the county, Atkins said. The service operates a fleet of 16 vehicles with three additional vehicles expected this year and currently employs 14 drivers with several part-time staff.
Atkins proposed exploring a deviated-route pilot — a fixed-loop route that can divert a short distance to pick up riders with ADA or mobility needs — to increase same-day availability. She said a deviated route with three vehicles could create recurring pickup points every 45 minutes and help reduce multi-week booking waits for same-day medical and shopping trips.
Council members expressed interest and asked for additional details; Atkins said she will return in April with numbers and more specifics about the deviated-route concept and fleet needs.
Sources: presentation by Trish Atkins to the Connorsville Common Council, March 2, 2026.
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