OTTUMWA —
In two public forums held this week in City Hall, Ottumwa Transit staff got a better handle on what Ottumwans want to see in terms of bus service throughout the community.
Executive Director Diane Gawronski said Tuesday was a good mix of attendees, including regular transit riders, representatives from the school district and the correctional facility and a representative from the tower complexes.
“I was pleased with how open and relaxed the forums were,” Gawronski said. “People participated eagerly. We didn’t have to pull information out of them.”
While she said not all of the suggestions will be able to be implemented, they will all be considered.
The two forums were part of an entire route review Ottumwa Transit is conducting to redefine routes and schedules.
“We spoke a lot about our current routes and schedules and the possibility of making changes,” Gawronski said.
Attendees also discussed the downtown bus shelter and Gawronski spoke with an assistant manager at Walmart about their busiest days for shopping and their employee base.
“We took several rides around the city on our current routes and looked at possible other routes,” Gawronski said. “We are considering another bus station hub in another area. We’re not sure where but it’s under consideration right now.”
Ottumwa Transit Advisory Board members have also been out and about conducting passenger surveys and counting how many get on and off at each stop and how many transfers they make.
“We’re not finished by a long shot, but I think it was a very good start for us,” Gawronski said.
Gawronski also met with bus drivers and dispatchers for ideas on how to improve.
“All in all, there’s a large amount of information which we have to filter through, but it’s good,” she said. “We will be making some changes ... and maybe not everybody will be happy, but we have to do what is best for everybody in the long run.”
She said she hopes to present a recommendation to the City Council sometime in November.
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