WARSAW — In the preliminary plans for Kosciusko Area Bus Service’s deviated fixed route, there are 20 stops, from the Warsaw Community Public Library to Walmart, Martin’s, Kroger and other locations.
Shown is the preliminary map for the Kosciusko Area Bus Service deviated fixed route that was presented to the Warsaw Traffic Commission at their meeting Wednesday. The white dots are potential stops along the route. Map provided.
On Wednesday, June 4, KABS General Manager Kristin Rude presented the plans to the Warsaw Traffic Commission for their input. She said they’re looking to tentatively implement the route Aug. 5.
“For those unfamiliar with what the deviated route is … it’s a hybrid model of public transportation. It operates along a set route and schedule but has flexibility to deviate off that route within a defined distance, to pick up and drop off passengers who make advanced reservations,” she explained, adding it combines the reliability of a fixed route and the on-demand services that KABS currently offers. A deviated fixed route is especially helpful when serving individuals with disabilities, seniors and those who live just outside the walkable corridors for those fixed stops.
“The service is being launched in a direct response to community needs,” Rude said. “So, identified through feedback from riders, employers, INDOT, local organizations. Reliable and affordable transportation continues to be a major barrier for employment, healthcare access and independent living for many people who live in Warsaw and the county, but this will specifically service Warsaw.”
In a packet provided to traffic commission, it showed the route that KABS is proposing for the deviated fixed route. It is scheduled to start at the library and will loop around every hour, going north up SR 15 toward Walmart. It’ll hit a lot of the high-density residential areas, healthcare providers and social service agencies. Rude said they worked closely with the Michiana Area Council of Governments to develop the route, as well as INDOT and KABS’ internal development team to develop safe and effective stop locations.
Some of the stops are on public right-of-way, some are on private business property and three are on SR 15, which would be INDOT regulated. The packet she provided to the commission also showed the possible locations for signs for the route.
Warsaw Public Works and Street Superintendent Dustin Dillon asked what the stop time frame was going to be. Rude said the stops are designed to minimize traffic disruptions, and about 60 seconds or less. An exception to the 60 seconds would be if a passenger is in a wheelchair or has a mobility device.
“Almost all of these stops have either where they can pull to the side of the road and traffic can merge to another lane, or like a center turn lane, but none of the stops are designed to completely pull off the road except for those at like Walmart and Kroger or the hospital,” Rude said. If there’s no one at a stop location, the bus won’t stop there.
Traffic Administrator Lance Grubbs said the stop at Harrison and Sheridan was pretty close to the intersection and he would have a problem with that. It was suggested that stop be further north. Dillon said the concern on Harrison Street was he didn’t know how people were going to get to that stop as there are no sidewalks on Harrison and Sheridan at that area. He had a similar concern with the stop at Husky Trail and CR 200N.
Rude said the stop at CR 200N was included in the information but it’s uncertain if they’ll move forward with implementing a stop there.
Warsaw Community Schools Director of Transportation Mark Fick said his concern would be any stops that don’t have sidewalks. Rude said that’s also a concern with the stops along the right side of the road of SR 15, as well as there’s not great crossing on SR 15.
Grubbs said there’s a problem at Winona Avenue and Buffalo Street, unless the stop is either at the Lighthouse or the old Marsh building.
Warsaw Police Department Capt. Joel Beam said he did like the route overall.
“So, to keep the path, because the goal with this route is to really minimize pulling into parking lots and out of parking lots. It adds a lot of time and, as we’re trying to get as many stops into the route to be able to service as many areas, so that Winona and Buffalo — to keep on that route — I do understand how that intersection could be a problem,” Rude said. She asked if moving that stop back could be a feasible solution.
Rude said the route would run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. “So every hour on the hour we would be moving through there,” she stated.
Grubbs asked if they had any idea if anyone would actually be boarding or departing the bus at any of the stops.
“It’s really hard to get a full grasp on what our most frequent stops are going to be. This will be a pilot program. We’re running it for two years. We’re going to implement and not make any changes for six months. Six months into it, we find some of these stops we’re getting no foot traffic at all, it could be something we come back, we discuss something a little different, but we don’t want to implement with that goal of ‘this isn’t going to work.’ The research we’ve done, we’ve gotten feedback from the community, we looked at our most frequented stops. We’re currently doing on-demand services to see where the foot traffic will be, so we do believe it’ll be utilized,” Rude said.
“It’s also going to be an education piece with the community because the service is very different from what we offer currently. You just show up and jump on a bus where right now you have to call KABS ahead of time and schedule a ride.”
Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins said she’d like the opportunity to drive the route. Rude said she would follow up on the commission’s suggestions and return to their July 2 meeting.
Jeremy Skinner, Warsaw community and development director, suggested Rude and a team from the city meet and go over the plan so they can understand what changes need to be made. The city team could include Skinner, City Planner Justin Taylor, Mayor Jeff Grose and Dillon. Rude was willing to do that.
