Tonight in Johnson County

The JO's Strategic Transit Action Recommended Taskforce meets tonight at 6:30 at the Sylvester Powell Center at Johnson Drive and Lamar in Mission. 

The taskforce is charged with:

• Studying the county’s Transit Strategic Plan
• Evaluating current service options, both within the county and metro links
• Presenting recommendations on future public transportation strategies, including both short-term and long-term financing options for a comprehensive county-wide transit system

Also there will be an open house for the Vision Metcalf project tonight from 4:30 - 6:30 at the Matt Ross Community Center at 81st and Marty, just west of Metcalf, with a presentation at 5:30. 

At the open house members of the public will be able to view the latest concepts related to Vision Metcalf and future downtown development. The presentation will illustrate the latest updates to the downtown form-based code and regulating plan. Recent revisions are based on input from community groups, the form-based code steering committee, the development community, and city staff over the last several months.

New Johnson County taxi service

Bill George, who owns a number of taxi companies in Kansas City, is starting a new taxi service for south Johnson County.

A new Johnson County service, 10/10 Taxi, makes it simple - $10 for up to five miles and a maximum of $15 after that, and 10 minutes or less to pick you up or you get 10 percent off.

The taxi service will launch at 8 a.m. Wednesday and then run 24/7, covering two zones: Blue Valley (from 95th Street to 151st Street, State Line Road to Pflumm Road) and the city limits of Olathe.

It will be interesting to see how much this service is utilized. My guess is there are more elderly people in Johnson County that need to get to places than most people realize. I also wonder how this affects the JO's "special edition" for senior citizens that will provide curb-to-curb service on demand. Sure the taxi is more convenient, but my impression is that senior citizens aren't exactly pressed for time, and what is more important to them is saving a buck or two whenever they can.

The JO celebrates expanding to five new routes

In a time when most transit services are cutting routes, the JO should be applauding for expanding their number of routes. In July the JO expanded to five new routes:

664 - Metcalf-Downtown
556 - Metcalf-Plaza
856 - New flex service midday on Metcalf-Plaza
575 - 75th Street and Quivira; Waldo to JCCC
875 - New flex service midday on 75th Street and Quivira; Waldo to JCCC

This, in addition to the recent K-10 route to Lawrence, helps upgrade transit service in Johnson County considerably. There is still a long way to go in making the JO a truly viable alternative to driving in Johnson County but at least the agency is being allowed to move in the right direction, when the county could be reactionary by imposing draconian cuts.

This Thursday, August 19th, the JO will be holding a publicity event to drum up attention for their new routes. Join them at the Price Chopper at 75th and Metcalf from 4:30-6:30 for free food and free passes and take a ride!