About the North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit District
What is the Coordinated Transit District?
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has created a eight county service area called the North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit District (CTD). The counties in the area include Saline, Ellsworth, Ottawa, Lincoln, Cloud, Mitchell, Republic and Jewell.
The purpose of the CTD is to develop strategies for the provision of transit services throughout our communities that will make the most efficient use of additional funding made available by the state legislature as part of the Transportation Works for Kansas (T-WORKS) passed in 2010.
How is the CTD organized?
The CTD is headed by the North Central Kansas Regional Transit Coordination Board (NCKRTCB). The role of the NCKRTCB is to provide a forum for representatives from the eight counties within the CTD to discuss and act upon service coordination that is appropriate for the North Central Kansas CTD population. Representation on the board will consist of the following:
- Representatives from participants
- Affiliate Members
- Ex-Officio member from KDOT
The North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit Council (CTC) serves as an advisory committee to the NCKRTCB and will provide a forum for transit providers in the eight county service area to discuss regional transportation needs, coordinated service opportunities, and information sharing. The membership of the North Central Kansas CTC will comprise representatives from organizations participating in the following:
- FTA Section 5311 Providers
- FTA Section 5310 Providers
- Ex-Officio member from KDOT
The Mobility Manager will provide staff support for coordination of transit service providers to ensure seamless service to service users throughout the region.
Regional Strategies:
- Regional routes – that allow multiple providers to coordinate, combine, and share trips, while preventing duplication.
- Coordinated scheduling – that utilizes Global Position System (GPS), vehicle-based tablets, and scheduling software to provide providers with knowledge and details of other trips in their area.
- Mobility management – that gives transit providers a regional resource that facilitates administrative transit connections between transit providers, employers, medical centers, and social agencies.
- Regional governance structure – that provides a framework to make service and funding decisions related to regional transit, including oversight, financial participation, legal context, and regional branding.
- Increased awareness of transit service in the region – that effectively communicate options to the public to inform customers decision-making, focusing on enhancing customer service.
- Create Partnerships – between a diverse group of community organizations to ensure transportation resources are coordinated effectively.
- Improved Communication – that provides stakeholders and providers timely information regarding transportation in the region.
- Develop travel training – that provides new training programs for individual users on awareness, knowledge, and skills of public transportation and alternative transportation options available in the region.
Benefits of Mobility Management in North Central Kansas:
- Promotes, enhances, and facilitates access to transportation services, including integration and coordinating services for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and low-income individuals.
- Work with major employers in the region to assess opportunities to provide transit service for employees.
- Development of new ways to remove barriers for transportation to and from jobs and employment support services for people residing in rural areas.
- Assess regional and community transit needs and identify travel options in the region.
- Provide training and knowledge of the different types of services available to the region’s residents.
- Cooperation with regional transportation providers to ensure optimum transportation opportunities for customers.