Wichitans want more bus service, but no money for expansion

Wichitans want more services from city buses, but the city manager says there is not enough money for the current system.

During a workshop this morning, Wichita city council members heard the results of a public outreach study on the future of Wichita bus service. The survey found people wanted more routes and more service, including service on Sundays and during the evenings.

While council members heard three possible plans to provide that, city manager Robert Layton provided a pessimistic view of the current system. Layton told council members, if nothing changes, the current transit system faces an $800,000 deficit by the end of 2012.

Last September bus fares increased by 50 cents in order to offset money trouble in the transit department. Part of the reason for the increasing cost is the increasing price of gas. Transit officials say ridership has dropped since the fare increase and the city used up reserves last year to balance the transit budget.

While transit officials say the public wants a broader transit system, Layton says property taxes and fares cannot support any sort of expansion.

Tuesday's discussion was just part of a workshop and no action was taken. The issue was sent back to the city's transit advisory council for further discussion.