The Cimarron Public Transit System held a public forum Thursday as they were seeking for public input. A few of the services’ customers and State Rep. Ken Luttrell attended the meeting to share their thoughts about the transportation service.
No big complaints were said from customers, but one suggested idea was to make the service offer more flexible hours and expand their service to cover the holidays. Future plans for the transit were also discussed by Cimarron staff, including using social media to spread the word about its summer youth programs and let parents ride for free with their children.
Cimarron staff will still take input from riders, local businesses, municipalities, social service agencies, tribes, private providers health facilities, elected officials and the general public to help in preparing for the future.
The program is to prepare for a variety of scenarios during uncertain times. Priorities will be focused on sustainability and aligning available resources most efficiently to meet the greatest needs, according to a statement issued by the service.
Cimarron Transit recently submitted a letter of intent to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to apply for federal assistance for the year 2020 to operate a rural transit program. The transportation plan will be incorporated into the agency’s annual application for funding under Section 5311 formula grants for Rural Areas Program, which is due to ODOT by March 31.
In 2018, the service provided rides to 88 senior citizens in the Ponca City area, making 5,670 free one-way trips to senior centers, medical appointments, grocery stores, employment and recreational activities. The service also provided rides to 31 low-income Ponca City residents, receiving more than 3,000 reduced fares. Osage and Creek county also reported similar usage numbers, and the service transported more than 1,400 Medicaid clients to appointments with no cost in 2018.
The Cimarron Public Transit provides public transportation service for Creek, Kay, Osage, Pawnee and Washington counties.
Contact Laura Corff for more information at 580-718-0444, or [email protected].
Inputs and comments can be emailed to the same given address, faxed to 580-718-0981 or mailed to 501 Sixth Street, Pawnee, OK 74058.
