Hunter
01/10/21
The Department of Transportation Services is discussing a pilot program that would provide late-night and Sunday transit services to Iowa City.
The Daily Iowan reports that during Saturday’s work session, the City Council heard from Director of Transportation Services Darian Nagle-Gamm, who told them the department is considering altering the current schedule and increasing the hours of transit service for community members.
The pilot program, which would be self-funded, would be presented to Council if funding is approved in February or March.
The current fiscal year’s transit study will take longer to complete this time around due to the coronavirus pandemic. The study, in coordination with the Iowa City Area Development Group, will include suggestions on how to improve rider experience.
Fiscal Year 2020 passenger trips were down 22 percent compared to the year before. With the pandemic still top of mind, the Department of Transportation is fully aware they have to provide a safe ridership experience, and it will take some time to get traffic back to fiscal year 2019 levels.