KINGMAN – Because of all who spoke on why the yellow bus was so desperately needed at last Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Kingman City Council made the decision to keep Kingman Area Regional Transit’s (KART) Yellow Bus Line going until August 1, instead of the original date of July 1, to see if they could come up with a plan to save it.
Mayor Ken Watkins said the city had an extra $65K, but needed an additional $100K to keep that route.
It’s a route that brings folks from the county into the city with key stops at Walmart, Mohave County College Neal Campus, and the shopping center at Gordon and Stockton Hill. Many said they depend on that bus.
David McDonald, Michelle Bagley, Sonya Morris, Stephanie Williams, April Gordon, Wendy Weaver all said removing that route would have a severe impact on them and this community.
“I was told by my doctor that I am going blind. I’m legally blind in my left eye and had to give up my driver’s license,” said Michelle Bagley. “I can’t drive anymore.”
Without that bus, she said she and many others with walkers, in wheelchairs and scooters will be stranded, with no way to get to doctor’s appointments, or to the grocery store.
Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli said she was compassionate for everyone. She further stated that the county should pay some of the cost, and Mohave County College where the bus drops off and picks up students, and businesses where people work, dependent on the bus to get them there, should also chip in.
Mohave County Supervisor Don Martin said in a separate interview that he and all the other supervisors supported the yellow bus line. He said that they were scheduling a meeting to talk with the city about how it can be saved.
“We used to all work together; that’s how it should be,” Supervisor Martin said.
Residents and local businesses are encouraged to call Mayor Watkins or any of the council members at 928-753-5561 to help financially toward the $100K or if you have any suggestions on how the yellow bus line can be saved.
