KINGMAN, Ariz. – Kingman Area Regional Transit (KART) was the only topic discussed during the Kingman City Council’s work session Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 6.
Kingman Assistant Public Works Director Jack Plaunty and Public Transit Superintendent and KART Manager Sheri Furr presented a report to the council.
Furr said it was requested that KART extend service to the airport and Industrial Park without increasing their annual budget of $464,000.
She reported that the Blue route had the lowest ridership while the Yellow route had the largest.
She stated that if the Blue route, which covers a 12.4-mile area, was eliminated, 11 stops would need to be eliminated, but said they would be picked up by other routes.
If the Yellow route was eliminated, 10 stops would be eliminated.
Councilman Jim Dykens stated, “I am against shutting down any stops on the Yellow route. It’s the busiest route and the most needed by our residents.”
Furr said Mohave College was not paying anything toward the budget, although they’re the ones that had requested the route be extended to bring students to the Neal Campus in the county.
“They gave us $3,000 in advertising several years ago,” Furr stated. “They said they will give us $10,000, but they want $10,000 in advertising in return.”
Vice Mayor Sammeli said the Yellow route was the need of the community. “We can’t take away the need of the community,” Sammeli said.
Furr said if they eliminated the Blue route, and redesigned the Yellow route to the Industrial Park, that most stops from the Blue and Yellow routes would be picked up by the Red and Green routes.
Councilwoman Jamie Scott Stehly said, “It’s important that our partners donate or contribute so we can keep the Yellow route.
They also discussed on-demand transportation, but no decisions were made.
