The Paducah Area Transit System has a unique status as the only fixed route bus system in Kentucky that serves a rural town community with a population under 50,000. On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross speaks with the system's executive director Arthur Boykin about understanding the services provided and the challenges of operating such a system in our region.
Arthur Boykin says he's been the Executive Director of the Paducah Transit System for about four years. The system was established in 1981 and he applauds the mayor and commissioners of the time who saw the need for public transportation service in Paducah. At the time, there were only for-profit cab companies that due to operational loss gradually faded away.
It's challenging to meet the needs of a fixed route system, Boykin says. Operators of equipment of this type need to possess commercial drivers licenses with passenger endorsements and one of the challenges is offering competitive wages. The system costs approximately $8,000 for every operational hour.
Another challenge is the logistics of meeting the needs of all of the clients. The route was designed so that public transportation was available to anyone within 3/4 of a mile of the system. There are often individuals who say that it's not close enough of that they don't have access for various reasons. Boykin says he extends the transportation as a compliment to individuals with a disability or who are not able to ride the fixed route to within 1/4 of a mile.
On a daily basis, the system serves 425-450 individuals. Paratransit, for individuals with disabilities, serves 47 people. The demand-response, door-to-door, service has about 260 daily individuals. There are also 11 veterans who ride daily. In addition to the fixed route, the system offers transportation between communities from Evansville to South Fulton, through partnerships with other companies - serving about 29 people.
Boykin says the system enhances the quality of life for citizens: "If you are an individual that's wanting to get from one side of town to the other and you don't have access to a car, or can you imagine every time having to call a friend or a neighbor or someone and saying 'hey can you take me there?'" If you are a senior citizen who no longer drives or who may have a disability, the service allows for a fuller quality of life. It also enhances businesses economically, helping someone get to a doctor's appointment or do some local shopping.
There are certain restrictions in the public system, for example not being able to take someone prior to 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m., but this can be worked around in the demand-response service. He says there's a need to extend operational hours, but doing so would have to coincide with being able to finance such an expansion.
Other regional communities have contacted Boykin to learn about the system, notably Hopkinsville, who recently began running a deviated fixed route system. He says he's happy to share his experience.
