Wichita city council members have agreed to continue offering free bus service on Saturdays through June 27th.
The service is a response to the economic hardship created by the coronavirus outbreak, job layoffs and the stay-at-home orders that were in effect. Wichita Transit director Mike Tann said many people have been without jobs and without access to transportation.
Tann said the bus system had 3,000 rides on Saturdays before the pandemic, and after the stay-at-home orders were issued, it dropped to 900. He said free service over the past two Saturdays has brought ridership back up to nearly 1,500 trips.
Council member Bryan Frye said the city should look at offering free service on one weekday, and Tann said he is working with city manager Robert Layton on a plan for that. Layton said with weekday ridership and social distancing requirements, only 12 people would be allowed on a bus at one time, and that would cut some people out of service during the week. He said there are discussions on some alternatives.
The city will be using federal coronavirus relief funds under the CARES Act to cover the cost of the Saturday service.
Tann said transit employees have done impressive jobs during the pandemic. He said buses are disinfected every night and there is a deep cleaning crew that works on the buses every weekend. Protective shields have been installed for transit drivers.
