SALINA, KS – CityGo marked another milestone! Salina’s fixed route bus service welcomed its 100,000th rider late Monday, Oct. 26. Salinan Darlene Bryant, 58, boarded CityGo’s yellow route bus about 7:45 p.m. from a stop near Santa Fe. Darlene, a stacker at Tony’s Pizza Plant, was heading to work. The driver of the bus was Gene Melies, one of CityGo’s first drivers.
To celebrate, Darlene received a VIP CityGo pass – which entitles her to free CityGo rides through the end of the year. She also won a $50 Salina Chamber gift certificate, which may be redeemed at a number of downtown businesses.
“It was pretty exciting,” she said. “I don’t use it every day, probably a few times a week…I’ll use it more this winter and with the free rides.”
CityGo officials had predicted the 100,000th rider would board a bus this week, but the milestone happened sooner than expected. Ridership so far this year has exceeded expectations. Prior to the bus service’ debut Dec. 1, 2008, CityGo officials had hoped to hit the 60,000-ride mark. They hit that figure after just six months in service.
“We welcome more and more riders each week to CityGo,” said Debbie Atkinson, Transportation Coordinator at OCCK. “We hope to continue attracting new passengers as service expands to include more of our community, particularly when the fourth route debuts early next year.”
For more information about CityGo, visit www.salinacitygo.com.
About CityGo
OCCK Inc., in partnership with the City of Salina and the Kansas Department of Transportation, operates and manages CityGo fixed-route transit service. CityGo spans the city from North to South and East to West with three routes, noted by colors on route maps and bus stops: red, blue, and yellow. Service runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, with more than 115 fixed bus stops citywide. Fares for the CityGo buses are $1 for a Single-Trip Pass (recommended for one-way trips), $2 for a Day Pass (recommended for two-way trips and transfers), $5 for a 6-Trip Ticket Book, and $30 for a Monthly Pass. Children 10 and under ride free. For more information about CityGo, call 785-826-1583 or visit www.salinacitygo.com.
About OCCK
Since 1970, nonprofit organization OCCK Inc. has worked within the community to provide resources and education, and has been recognized in Kansas and throughout the Midwest for providing employment services, assistive technology, case management, and independent-living and residential services to persons with disabilities. Their services are available to people of any age and with varying disabilities, assisting them in their efforts to independently live and work within the community. OCCK Transportation Services provides public transportation to residents throughout North Central Kansas. Services include OCCK’s CityGo, Salina’s fixed-route bus service; Paratransit on-demand service to qualified riders; Med-A-Van non-emergency medical transport; and daily intercity service between Belleville and Salina and between Ellsworth and Salina. For more information about OCCK or OCCK Transportation Services, call 785-827-9383 or visit www.occk.com.