The successful relaunch of the Sunshine Lamp Trolley in February was a major step forward for public transportation in Joplin. Having been idled for two years due to staffing and resource challenges, the program is back up and running better than ever.
Now, the City of Joplin wants your input! A short public survey is available to help shape the future of transit in the Joplin region. All citizens are encouraged to take a few minutes to share their needs and ideas because your voice matters!
For long-term sustainability and to meet the expressed needs of citizens, the City recognizes there is a larger regional opportunity and has launched the Joplin Regional Transit Study. Funded by a grant from the Federal Transportation Administration, the study aims to identify regional partners and options for transit expansion that continue to provide affordable access to jobs, education, healthcare, and public services across the Joplin region.
“Staff are working with transit riders, area leaders, community organizations, the business community, and other stakeholders to discover what’s next for transit in the Joplin region,” said Tony Robyn, Assistant City Manager. “We are looking for what’s possible and long-term solutions for public transportation within our region, while identifying sustainable governing structures of a metropolitan system, such as a transit authority.”
Public transportation involves many variables, and developing a regional system will be a collaborative effort among the communities. One of the first steps is to gather data from citizens about their needs and work with community leaders in the area.
“We want to hear from everyone as we begin the discussions to develop potential solutions for a long-term structure that is more resilient, sustainable, and meets the needs of the whole area. The goal is to improve mobility across the metro region,” he said.
Citizens can access the survey here.
Reference:
Lynn Iliff Onstot, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 204
LOnstot@joplinmo.org
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