Kansas Municipal News
De Soto needs more people, not just Panasonic, to lure big-name retailers and grocers, CRE experts say
De Soto already has a pretty good selling point — Panasonic’s $4 billion, 4,000-job electric-vehicle battery plant — but before the city can lure the likes of Target or Walmart to town, it will need to ramp up its population. Almost 1,300 apartments already are planned or under construction, thanks to Prairie Village-based Flint Development, Lawrence-based Alcove Development and other smaller builders, which at least gets the ball rolling on meeting current and future housing demand from the plant, which targets being operational in 2025. But it could take three to five years before residents occupy those spaces and have sufficient income to buy those future retailers’ products.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
New city policy says children can stay at North Lawrence campsite
Children are now allowed to stay with their parents at the city-run campsite for people experiencing homelessness in North Lawrence, according to a new policy. To stay with their children, parents must read the “family contract,” and maintain contact with their children at all times, according to the policy, which went into effect last week. Previously, the city has not allowed anyone under 18 to stay at the campsite. The city announced Monday that it is putting in place new safety protocols at the campsite, emphasizing that there are no visitors allowed other than “community outreach partners” who have been approved by the city.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas Legislature approves K-12 education budget with private school benefits
The Kansas Legislature passed a K-12 education package Friday that fully funds public schools but includes expansion of a tax credit for private school students and allows private school students to participate in public school sports and activities. House lawmakers approved Senate Bill 113, which provides funding for the next three years, by an 83-37 vote, despite criticism from House Democrats who felt the process hasn’t been transparent — especially with a new provision that allows the state first right of refusal over closed school buildings. The bill passed 23-16 in the Senate after lengthy debate.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Legislature narrowly approves bill stripping authority from state, local public health officials
The Kansas Legislature narrowly passed a bill forbidding state and county public health officials from issuing test, isolation and closure mandates to counter spread of infectious disease and blocking the state from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations of children in schools or daycare facilities. The measure was sent Friday to Gov. Laura Kelly on the final day of the 2023 legislative session despite bipartisan opposition. The bill also would require the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to conduct a study of overdose deaths in Kansas with an emphasis on the role of fentanyl poisoning. Proponents seeking to restraint authority of public health officials argued personal liberty interests should supersede government action on behalf of the overall population. Supporters bristled at appointed health professionals directing disease response rather than relying on elected officials with authority derived from voters.
Source: Derby Informer
Kansas lawmakers adopt property tax break for restaurant, child care and fitness club businesses
The Kansas Legislature sent Gov. Laura Kelly a bill bundling elements from more than a dozen bills, including a property tax exemption for fitness, restaurant and child care businesses able to demonstrate they were in direct competition with operations of state or local government. The Senate approved the package Thursday on a vote of 26-13 despite bipartisan complaints Senate Bill 8 was decorated like a holiday tree with special-interest tax policy. The deal previously passed by the House 76-43 contained 18 distinct policy changes. It now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly, and could be added to the Democratic governor’s list of vetoed bills. … Sen. Caryn Tyson, the Parker Republican and the Senate’s top negotiator on tax policy, said the bill was designed to restrain state, city, county, township, university, school district and community college investment in facilities or services that could be provided by private businesses. She said child care, restaurant and fitness businesses shouldn’t pay taxes to government entities using that money to establish functions the free market could handle.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Olathe voters approve two citywide sales tax extensions
Olathe voters have approved the renewal of two citywide sales taxes. With 20,589 ballots cast in Tuesday’s mail-in election, Olathe voters approved an extension of the city’s current 3/8-cent sales tax for street maintenance. Roughly 21% of the 96,802 registered voters in Olathe participated in the election. Unofficial results from the Johnson County Election Office show 16,367 people (roughly 80%) voted in favor of the street maintenance sales tax renewal, while 4,199 (20%) voted against it. Voters also approved a renewal of the city’s ⅛-cent sales tax for parks and recreation maintenance.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Pittsburg pursuing more unified approach to community development
The conversion of an abandoned elementary school into a new day care center is being hailed as an ideal first project for Pittsburg’s new community development corporation, Point Forward. The nonprofit organization seeks to pool the resources and efforts of the municipal government, Chamber of Commerce, public school district and Pittsburg State University to accomplish projects individual members of the corporation might not be able to pull off on their own. A $6 million refurbishment of the old Washington Elementary School building on Locust Street into a fully functioning day care center is exactly the type of project that member entities had in mind when they formed Point Forward in the fall of 2022, according to City Manager Daron Hall.
Source: www.joplinglobe.com
Solar farm proposal reaches Pawnee County
A multinational energy company’s proposal to place a five-acre solar farm in southern Pawnee County has officials looking at spelling out the rules and regulations governing solar energy generation. At present, there are no policies on the county’s books regarding commercial alternative energy production. As the renewable energy source gains ground across the state, more Kansas counties are looking at whether solar farms would be a bankable asset or a risk to traditional agriculture producers.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Andover community shows resilience, rallying together on the first anniversary of the 2022 Andover tornado
Andover Central Park hosted many events on the first anniversary of the Andover tornado. Over 200 people were in attendance for tree planting and a special community prayer breakfast. Many people said they are happy about the progress made to rebuild the city over the past year. “It’s just nice to see the rebuilding. And even where they haven’t rebuilt, it’s cleaned up,” said Lori Loney of the American Red Cross. “It’s come a long way. I mean, homes are rebuilt, people are moving in, the school is amazing,” said Andover resident Megan Henwood.
Source: KSN-TV
What Butler County 911 dispatchers learned from the Andover tornado
Saturday marks the first anniversary of the Andover tornado that destroyed homes and buildings. Behind that day’s response, dispatchers in Andover, Butler County and Sedgwick County. Many say it was unlike anything they had experienced before. The phones were ringing nonstop from about 8 p.m. to midnight. “You just keep doing one thing and go on to the next, and then, it just kept going,” Butler County Dispatch supervisor Marissa Sparks said. … Butler County 911 says, for the most part, everything went smoothly on their end that day, but they still learned lessons on how to work better next time.
Source: KSN-TV
Marshall County voters say no to jail proposal
Marshall County voters said no to a proposed new jail in Tuesday’s special election, which saw very low voter turnout. The total was 718 no votes and 396 in favor, which was 64 percent against the proposal and 36 percent in favor. A total 1,114 ballots were cast — about 16 percent of the 7,060 Marshall County residents eligible to vote in the election.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Arkansas City EMS takes over after Newkirk ambulance hits deer
The Arkansas City, KS Fire/EMS Department took over for the Newkirk Fire Department/EMS after one of their ambulances hit a deer early Saturday morning. “Continue to use caution when driving, especially at night because deer are still moving about and are on the roadways,” the Newkirk Fire Department/EMS said. The Newkirk Fire Department/EMS says they, unfortunately, encountered one of those deers around 4:30 a.m. while en route to a hospital with a patient in Kansas.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for April 28, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 27, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Marion County ponders request for tours
A hotel owner might add courthouse tours to attractions she offers guests. Tammy Ensey, co-owner of the Historic Elgin Hotel, asked county commissioners Monday about arranging regular tours of the courthouse, Marion City Library, trails, and other places. Each tour would last about 3½ hours.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Derby Passes Golf Cart Ordinance
An ordinance that allows golf carts to be driven on some city streets was passed by the Derby City Council. It allows golf carts to be driven if the speed limit is 30 mph or less, the driver has a valid driver’s license and the golf cart is registered as a special purpose vehicle with the police department, is insured and has valid registration displayed. While carts cannot be driven on streets where the speed limit is above 30, they can cross at a crosswalk.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Marion unveils strategic plan
Forty-two people gathered Tuesday at Marion Community Center to hear how the city’s strategic plan has developed and make final comments and suggestions. Misty Bruckner, director of the policy and management center at Wichita State University, led the meeting. Bruckner outlined for audience members key points of the draft strategic plan, eight months in the making. She said the meeting would be the last opportunity for citizens to have a say before results are given to the city council.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Panasonic starts vertical construction on $4B battery plant in De Soto
Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. started vertical construction this week in De Soto on its $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant, moving on from about six months of preliminary site work. Workers erected the facility’s first steel beam on Wednesday, according to a release. They finished moving 4.5 million cubic yards of earth, a process that started in November.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
How Topeka officials are learning from Colorado Springs to combat homelessness
A recent trip to Colorado is helping Topeka City leaders find a new perspective on approaching the local homeless situation. The Topeka Mayor, City Manager and other representatives visited Denver and Colorado Springs in mid-April to see how those cities approached the concept of low barrier homeless shelters. Because of the unique way they combat homelessness, Colorado Springs is used to visitors from other states. Officials are unpacking what lessons they learned from that impactful trip, and putting together new ideas for what changes could come to the Capital City.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Lenexa OKs future mural at Old Town activities complex
Lenexa is on track to commission its first-ever public mural project, which would feature a local artist. Last week, the Lenexa City Council unanimously gave the green light to a plan to put a mural on the outside of the future combined Lenexa Community Center and Senior Center building. The mural is listed as the top priority on the Lenexa Arts Council’s project list also approved last week.
Source: Prairie Village Post
JoCo’s affordable housing crunch is preventing Section 8 tenants from using vouchers
Kamber Corpening felt relief when she first landed a Section 8 voucher in 2020, a promise that she qualified for substantial rent subsidies from federal taxpayers. Then came the hard part — finding a landlord willing to deal with the accompanying red tape and to open units to lower-income tenants. She tried almost 100 places over the course of a year and found few that took Section 8 vouchers.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee mulls revising long-term plan 2 years after adoption
Shawnee could be on track to revise its current long-range development plan, more commonly called a comprehensive plan. Earlier this week, the Shawnee City Council started workshopping the plan, known as Achieve Shawnee, during a council committee meeting. The conversation focused mostly on multifamily housing and mixed-use developments, which usually combine commercial and some kind of higher density housing in one area. No changes were made this week to the Achieve Shawnee plan adopted in 2021, but multiple councilmembers signaled they have some revisions they’d like to see made to the plan in their wards.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Leawood considers new license plate readers at city intersections
Leawood is planning to add one license plate reader somewhere in the city, and considering using federal funding to help pay for 10 new license plate readers at other strategic intersections. As part of a work session April 17, the Leawood City Council and city staff discussed the possibility of putting some of the city’s federal COVID-19 relief funding toward the new license plate readers.
Source: Prairie Village Post
A Johnson Countian’s guide to this week’s NFL Draft in KCMO
The 2023 National Football League Draft kicks off in Kansas City, Mo., this Thursday. The three-day event — one of the biggest the metro region has hosted in recent memory — features barbecue competitions, football-themed games for kids, fan-centered activities, musical performances and, oh yeah, the actual draft, at Kansas City’s Union Station.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan plans to tweak regulations for airport, code and housing boards
The Manhattan city government plans to make tweaks to three advisory boards as officials continue their goal of cleaning up rules. The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday discussed potential changes to the Airport Advisory Board, Code Appeals Board and Housing Appeals Board. City administrators are recommending the Airport Advisory Board meets quarterly in the future instead of monthly. Commissioners also wanted to address the makeup of the board. The airport board has 11 members — six at-large and one representative each selected by Fort Riley, Kansas State University, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Junction City and Pottawatomie County Commission. The board rules require that two of the members are active pilots.
Source: themercury.com
Atchison County launches tire disposal program
Possibly the biggest finding from the Atchison County-wide clean-up has been the abundance of disposable tires throughout Atchison County. During Monday’s County Commission meeting, County Chairwoman Casey Quinn highlighted the issue that arose with an overwhelming amount of disposable tires brought in last Friday when the county-wide clean-up began. “There are over 200 tires with 14 people of different addresses from all three of our districts who still have tire needs,” Quinn said. “I emailed the state about a tire grant opportunity and asked if they had any program or assistants they can give to our county.”
Source: www.atchisonglobenow.com
Municipal Bond Trends for April 26, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Wednesday marks 32 years since devastating F-5 ‘Andover Tornado’
Wednesday marks 32 years since of one of Kansas’ most devastating tornadoes. Known as the Andover Tornado, the F-5 caused damage across Harper, Sedgwick and Butler Counties on April 26, 1991. That twister claimed 17 lives — most of them taken from the Golden Spur mobile home park. It began with a touchdown in Harper County and then tore across Sedgwick and Butler counties. In Sedgwick county it grew to F-3 intensity and tore through parts of south and east Wichita, making a direct hit on McConnell Air Force Base. Four people were killed in Sedgwick County.
Source: KAKE – News
Pittsburg hands out grants for downtown murals
The City of Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board wants to support local artists for painting murals. Community Development Specialist for the City of Pittsburg Christi Yockey says, last year the city only had one applicant for the Advisory Board’s funding towards murals. This year, they have already had three projects requesting help to offset costs from the $2,500 funding. One of the artists is Ian Yovan, who already painted two murals and now received funding for two more. Yovan says, the community can expect to see the first one by North Broadway in about a month. Yovan says, he prefers to create his murals fast at night to keep it a secret. The artist says painting murals is a way to bring life to his home city.
Source: KOAM News
Topeka city attorney embracing life, new normal after leg amputation
A setback in life can make or break someone but for one Topeka woman, an amputation made her appreciate life even more. It also encouraged her to do all the things she loves, on one leg. The days can get busy for a city attorney like Amanda Stanley. We can all only imagine what each day looks like for her since she is the attorney representing the Topeka municipality. “You don’t think about how the city attorney’s office is so involved in all the different various departments,” Stanley said. “Helping solve problems, and helping move things forward. I love it. No two days are the same. You get to do a lot of interesting work.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog emphasizes upcoming sales tax vote in annual address
Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog enumerated a long list of the city’s successes in his annual State of the City speech Tuesday — along with one particular request for residents. “If you live in Overland Park you will get in the mail a ballot. Please check ‘yes’ on the sales tax and help us maintain the streets that our residents expect,” he said. Skoog’s personal plea (city administrations are not allowed to campaign for ballot issues) was in reference to the June 22 mail-in ballot that will ask city residents to raise the one-eighth-cent sales tax to a three-eighth-cent tax to be used for infrastructure.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Prairie Village council housing priorities include short-term rentals, teardown-rebuilds
The Prairie Village City Council on Monday spent more than two hours discussing housing-related topics in the city’s ongoing and, at times, fraught debate over how to address affordability concerns. Monday’s meeting was the first time the city council formally waded back into the housing discussion since approving hotly contested housing recommendations last summer. After Monday’s discussion, the city council unanimously directed city staff to prioritize two topics — short-term rentals and addressing long-standing concerns over teardown-rebuilds — for future discussions.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee City Council wants to revise ‘parks and pipes’ sales tax
Shawnee residents will likely be asked to vote on a new version of the city’s “parks and pipes” sales tax later this year that would allow some of the money raised to be used for something new. This week, the Shawnee City Council gave its initial blessing to new language for the proposed ⅛-cent sales tax during a council committee meeting. The move comes after months of sometimes-tense discussion over the future of the tax. The revision, if ultimately approved by voters, would allow the revenue generated from the tax to be used with more “flexibility,” councilmembers say.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Facility study, potential building recommendations ahead for USD 251 Board of Education special meeting Wednesday
Facility matters are ahead for the USD 251 North Lyon County Board of Education. The board has a special meeting at 6 pm Wednesday. The foundation of the meeting — pun intended — is a 30-page facility study recently conducted by G Kent Stewart of Manhattan, including enrollment trends, building overviews, maintenance and results from past referendums on new school facilities over the past decade. Board members will discuss those items, as well as the survey’s recommendations — maintaining the capital outlay levy and considering a new engineering study or follow-up study of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems — as well as potential choices for the district’s future, including taking no action, consolidating with a nearby district, building a new high school instead of a new all-encompassing K-12 building, replacing the temporary classrooms at Northern Heights or building a six-room addition to the high school before removing three of the portable classroom units.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Beer, airports and license plates: Topeka wanted these laws. Here’s how they impact you.
Some changes are coming to the capital city — if you like to drink beer, flash your license plate or fly from an airport, that is. The capital city will be affected by three bills Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law in the past week, all of which were promoted by Topeka or Shawnee County officials as important to the city and region. One is designed to allow a better experience for public alcohol consumption, while another would create a license plate emblazoned with the Topeka city flag. A third would allow the city’s two major airports to more easily be improved — though it wasn’t without controversy in the Legislature.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for April 25, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Lawrence school board opposed to 4-day week in the near future
Switching to a four-day student/five-day staff school week could save the Lawrence school district money and provide more plan time for teachers, according to some staff members, but it raises equity concerns for families and students. School board members said Monday they don’t believe the district in the near future will be ready to consider the switch. Jayci Roberson and Jessica Rohrberg, co-chairs of the district’s calendar committee, presented to the board during Monday’s meeting. They shared a report of the committee’s work on the four-day student/five-day staff week, which will not be implemented next year but may be considered for future years.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Families ask City to allow their pets
Jessica Grigoreva addressed the Newton City Commission on Tuesday night, asking that the city let her family keep its potbellied pig. Potbellied pigs are not allowed in the city, and she would have to give the pig up if the current ordinance was enforced. “We’ve had her for two years, and she is part of our family,” she said. “We love her a lot.”
Source: Harvey County Now
New book explores interesting facts, places to visit in Kansas
There are some facts about the Sunflower State many people don’t know. Although the author of the newly released book, “Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” lives in Goodland, she has traveled throughout the state finding out about an insect museum, the first airplane that didn’t fly and the 1879 tornado that might have inspired “The Wizard of Oz.” “I like to find out little stories that people don’t know about,” said Roxie Yonkey, the author of “Secret Kansas.” “And I get to the joy of finding out this secret, like whoever knew this.”
Source: Hutch News
Lenexa installs new electric vehicle chargers
Electric vehicle owners can now conveniently charge their cars while working out, attending a meeting or enjoying a meal on the Lenexa civic campus. The City of Lenexa recently installed four electric vehicle chargers in the Lenexa civic campus parking garage. They’re located just south of the garage’s Winchester Street entrance.
Source: City of Lenexa
Here’s what ‘smart’ traffic signals in east Wichita corridor could mean for drivers
By the end of 2024, some traffic signals in east Wichita will be equipped with radios that allow them to communicate back and forth with smart vehicles. “Right now, it’s really nothing more than letting a driver know when a signal is about to change, which should provide a safer environment and help drivers make better decisions,” Public Works Director Gary Janzen said. The high-tech signals will be installed on Greenwich Road from Central to Kellogg. Janzen said eventually, signals may be able to advise drivers what the optimum speed is to hit more green lights along the corridor. The new technology won’t be used to to track vehicles that run red lights or speed through the intersection, Janzen said. “The focus and purpose of this technology is for traffic safety only.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
USD 501 will be first in Kansas to offer district-wide free lunches
Topeka USD 501 will offer free lunches to all students starting next school year – and it’s the first district in Kansas to do so outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole Jahnke, USD 501’s general director of child nutritional services, said the idea behind providing students with free lunches is to eliminate lunchroom inequity. Jahnke said it’s an every day mission to offer nutritious food to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. “If you have a child in primary school and they have breakfast and lunch with us, they’ll be saving just under $700 a year per student,” Jahnke said. “And if you have a child in secondary school, it’ll be even more than that. So, it’s quite a big savings.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Significant Kansas drought affecting farmers and consumers
Since last year, the state of Kansas has experienced a drought. This drought is one of the most significant the Sunflower State has seen in quite some time. While the drought is more so affecting the western part of the state, that doesn’t mean we’re not feeling it right here in northeast Kansas. Last month was one of the driest months that Kansas has seen in 128 years. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state only saw an average of 0.54 inches in total precipitation. That’s down 1.51 inches from normal. “March was the 14th driest month since 1985,” K-State Research and Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Leroy Russell said. “We’re hoping April kind of picks back up. Let the farmers in where they can do the farming, work the ground and get the corn in.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Governor Kelly Announces Awardees of Nearly $50 Million of Infrastructure and Economic Development Grants
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced awardees for the second round of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) economic development grant program. Thirty-eight awardees will receive a share of nearly $50 million in BASE grants, which will be used to address infrastructure and economic development needs where solutions were delayed or slowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kansas Department of Commerce reviewed more than 400 applications from the first round and more than 100 new applications from the second round. In total, more than $2 billion in funding was requested for the nearly $50 million program, demonstrating both the need for this program and the many opportunities that exist throughout the state.
“To continue our record-breaking success in attracting businesses and creating jobs in Kansas, we must invest in infrastructure and economic development,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “That’s exactly what these grants do, and I’m proud that we were able to work together, across party lines, to continue driving our state forward.”
The second round of the BASE grant program, as approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, offers matching funds to address economic development opportunities with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents.
“The State of Kansas is determined to strengthen as many communities as we possibly can,” Senate President Ty Masterson said. “These BASE grants will get more vital community projects back on track, while transforming the state’s economy.”
Funds will support infrastructure investments associated with economic development projects. In addition to funds awarded, the BASE program has generated $44 million in matching investment by public and private stakeholders for awarded projects.
“The infrastructure projects this round of funding supports will foster prosperity for future generations of Kansans,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins said. “The SPARK Committee focused on projects that set the stage for strategic long-term growth through thoughtful and targeted planning.”
County and local governments, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders were eligible to apply for the second round of the BASE grant. Applications not awarded from the first round were also considered in the second round. There is a minimum 25% applicant match requirement and applicants were required to document how the project was delayed or affected negatively due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Communities throughout our state will receive long-lasting benefits as a result of the BASE grant program,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Local leaders proposed specific solutions to address needs in their communities and these focused investments will continue to propel our state’s historic economic growth.”
For a list of BASE grant recipients and more information on the program, click here.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
On-Demand bus service could spread throughout Topeka
Topeka’s new micro transit service has been up and running for nearly three months now. City leaders tell 27 News that while the program is still in its early days, the response so far has been promising. Now, the city is working to get the word out to even more people about the new service. Keri Renner is the Director of Marketing and Communication for Topeka Metro. She says Metro-On-Demand, or MOD, offers a more personalized mass transit option than traditional bus service. Topeka’s buses run either every hour or half hour, and travelers must go to a bus station or bus stop to catch a ride. That can make catching a bus difficult for many travelers.
Source: KSNT 27 News