News

MAPA to study possible transit options for Sarpy County

Getting around for those who live in Sarpy County can be difficult without access to a personal vehicle. For that reason MAPA and Sarpy County are conducting a needs assessment and feasibility study of transit services in the County. Sarpy County does not have any countywide transit service currently.

There are only two types of transit service offered within the County at this time. First, Metro Transit provides park and ride, express routes to specific locations within the Cities of Bellevue, Papillion and LaVista by contract. Secondly, those same cities provide special transit service for the elderly and those with disabilities.

The study will provide stakeholders with quantifiable data regarding demand for transit, the type of transit service that would best suit the needs of County residents, and recommendations for implementation. Possible options for the type of transit service include demand response, flex routes, express routes, fixed routes and coordination of existing services.

While fixed route transit involves vehicles which run along an established path at preset times, express routes operate typically with fewer stops so commuters can reach their destinations more quickly. Demand response allows passengers to request a ride from one location to another at a specific time. Flex routes are a hybrid of fixed route transit and demand response transit. The main routes cover a specific service corridor with a set of fixed stops and schedules but service routes are allowed to deviate from the route (usually by up to ¾ mile). Through this deviation they are able to provide door-to-door service to passengers whose trips end outside the service area of the main route or who require accessible services such as paratransit services.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project was released in August 2015. MAPA is currently in negotiations with a firm to conduct the study. A project kick-off meeting should occur within the next several months. It is anticipated the study will be completed by September 2016.