Jefferson City transit to consider single-ride pass, day pass

George Mincher helps riders July 1, 2014, onto the JeffTran bus he drives at the Transit Division offices on Miller Street.
George Mincher helps riders July 1, 2014, onto the JeffTran bus he drives at the Transit Division offices on Miller Street.

Jefferson City transit officials are considering new pass options to both help the community and try to expand transit ridership.

At the Public Transit Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, Transit Division Director Mark Mehmert presented two proposals - one for a single-ride pass and one for a day pass.

The single ride pass has been suggested to the transit division by different organizations, including St. Mary's Hospital and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service. Gerry Stegeman, transit operations supervisor, said organizations and churches would like to be able to purchase single-ride passes to hand out to those who need them.

"This way they'd be able to help more people," Stegeman said, noting right now, they would have to purchase a 20-ride pass, which is more money up front and less likely to be given out to someone who isn't already a heavy transit user. "It would benefit a lot of people."

Stegeman and Mehmert also said the single pass could help transit ridership, with more people giving the bus a try at least once.

The second proposal, for a day pass, would enable someone to purchase one $3 pass and use it for unlimited rides for one day. Mehmert said the idea has been floating around for at least the last year and a half, and staff has finally been able to figure out a workable model with each pass numbered and dated.

The committee unanimously approved moving both proposals forward to the Public Works Committee, as well as requesting staff put together a marketing campaign for the new passes to bring to the committee for review.