Riders and local businesses will get a chance to weigh in on proposed changes to routes run by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky next week.
The transit agency, called TANK, is holding two public hearings ahead of possible route eliminations and consolidations to get feedback from Northern Kentucky riders.
One input session for businesses will take place Feb. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kenton County Government Center (1840 Simon Kenton Way, Covington) in the building's second-floor commission chambers.
Another input session for riders will take place Feb. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Covington City Hall (20 W Pike St.) in the city commission chambers.
Both sessions will include a presentation from TANK, though the session for residents will be somewhat shorter. There will be stations where attendees can study proposed route changes and then speak with TANK officials one-on-one.
City officials in Covington say they requested the hearings.
"If you rely on the bus, or you own a business and find that your employees and clients or customers use the bus, this is your last chance to talk about how these proposals would affect you," Covington Assistant City Manager Bruce Applegate said in a news release. "We appreciate TANK working with us on setting up these sessions to ensure our citizens' concerns are heard."
TANK is undergoing a redesign of its bus system due to ridership changes and budget pressures. TANK runs on funding from Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties as well as funding from the federal government and fare revenues.
One change that could prove a big deal for some Northern Kentucky residents: an alteration to the 2X, which services the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, would require Covington residents to take a connecting route to access the 2X and get to the airport instead of catching it in the city.
There are plenty of other changes the transit authority is also considering.
Local routes facing elimination or consolidation:
- #1 Dixie Highway/Florence Industrial would now be part of the expanded 42X
- #8 Easter Ave./Fort Wright would be consolidated to Madison Avenue on the #7
- #9 Taylor Mill/Independence would be consolidated to Madison Avenue on the #7, with park and ride service available at the Latonia Kroger
- #11 Fort Thomas would be eliminated due to low ridership, with nearby park and ride service available at the Newport Shopping Center
- #12 Bellevue/Dayton would be consolidated with an expanded Southbank Shuttle that will now extend to Main Street in Dayton
- #33 Thomas Moore Parkway/Crestview Hills would be consolidated through Covington in part with Routes 8 and 9 as Route 7. St. Elizabeth Edgewood and medical offices would be accessed by a frequent shuttle connection from the #1 at Crestview Hills Town Center
Express routes facing elimination or consolidation:
- #1X Houston Road/Mineola Pike would be eliminated because of low ridership, TANK says. Nearby park and ride service would be available at Buttermilk P&R or the Florence Hub
- #35X East-West Express would be eliminated due to low ridership, according to TANK. The transit authority says there will be increased frequency on the #1 and #25, however. This route serves Northern Kentucky University.
- #18X Fort Mitchell/Edgewood Express would be eliminated due to low ridership, with nearby park and ride service available at the Fort Wright Hub or Buttermilk P&R
- #28X Empire Drive/Industrial Road Express service would be eliminated on Industrial Road between US25 and Turkeyfoot, with rest of route a part of the expanded 42X
- #31X Rolling Hills Drive Express would be consolidated with 30X, with continued service to Rolling Hills Drive
