Oskaloosa Residents Could Be Catching A Ride On The Bus
A 10-15 Transit bus making a stop in the Oskaloosa area.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Will there be a fixed bus route in Oskaloosa? Local organizers see it as a very possible reality in the near future.
Amy Langdon, Mahaska County United Way Executive Director, believes that the pieces for this are nearly all in place, “we are in the funding stage” says Langdon. “We do have the support of the Iowa DOT.”
According to Langdon, the IDOT has a program for start-up bus routes, like the one being prepared here in Oskaloosa. “They are going to put in about 80% [of funding] the first year,” with approximately 50% of the funding coming from the program the following year.
The hope is, that by the time that period has passed, the route will be able to sustain itself with the sale of bus passes and rider fees.
So at the moment, organizers are looking to raise the $25,000 needed to cover its costs for that first two years of operation. Part of that amount is needed, as well, because reimbursements take time to filter back in to the bus project from state and federal programs. “We’re trying to raise that through corporate sponsorships,” said Langdon. Beyond those corporate donations, grants are also being applied for that will help with those initial costs.
The administrator of the bus route will be 10-15 Transit that is based out of Ottumwa. They will provide the bus and para-transit bus for the route.
As of right now, the City of Oskaloosa will have zero dollars invested into the transit system. “The city is supporting it, just not financially,” said Langdon.
During Monday nights city council meeting, the Oskaloosa City Council passed along the application for a grant in the amount of $10,000 to the Mahaska County Community Foundation.
Schrock said the potential funding from the grant will be used as seed money to kick-start the project.
“We’re trying to build up ridership, and then, by the time the DOT walks away from it, you should have a good idea of how many people r and what you’re funding should be,” Schrock said.
Organizers will be spending the coming weeks optimizing the route to best serve riders, and make it possible for the bus to complete the route in an hour.
The group has set July 1st of this year as their target. The reason for that is, the federal reimbursements will start in 2015 versus 2016. “You really can’t sustain a bus route like this on ticket sales alone,” said Langdon of the first two years. The hope is then, after two years, people will be more aware of the transportation option, and will be in a habit to utilize the service.
