Jefferson City's public transit system - JeffTran - is likely to experience a ridership shrinkage in 2016, but its leaders already have paved their road with plans and actions to improve usage in 2017, transit Director Mark Mehmert said this week.
Mehmert said final 2016 ridership statistics won't be available for a while, but the system will not surpass the 300,000-plus passengers it accommodated in 2015.
JeffTran will adopt a $3 all-day pass Jan. 2, however, which Mehmert is confident will spark additional riders, as well as providing a significant financial break for many who use the buses. Riders now pay $1 per link with one free transfer per trip. Children under 6 years old ride free; and people over 60, disabled or with a Medicare card can ride for 50 cents per trip.
The $3 pass was approved by the Jefferson City Council earlier this year on a trial basis. Mehmert said the plan is for the trial period to run for six months.
The JeffTran fleet operates from 6:40 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, from transfer points at the Charles E. Robinson Transit station at 820 E. Miller St. and the Menard's-Walmart West bus shelter.
In addition to the new fare bargain, JeffTran will introduce a new ridership monitoring and trip planning technology in 2017, Mehmert said. The system, which includes a smartphone app and online information center, will be usable by any rider with a smartphone, as well as those who have texting capability.
JeffTran also will be the subject of an analysis by a nationally recognized transit consulting firm in 2017, which should significantly assist the 42-year-old agency's long-range planning, Mehmert said.
A City Council advisory committee chaired by 5th Ward Councilman Larry Henry oversees JeffTran.