ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Mass transit service in Liberal began Sept. 17, 2012 with the inauguration of the CityBus program. Within mere days, the service reached 1,000 passengers and the 10,000th ride was provided March 29, 2013.
CityBus averages 3,000 riders per month, and paratransit services are also available. The program also helps support the local business economy, and costs are reimbursed in part by the Kansas Department of Transportation, with local match funding coming from the 1-cent sales tax.
The program has been housed in the parking lot of City Hall for many years and last Tuesday, the program broke ground on a new facility in the 200 block of East 4th Street. The new facility will provide indoor space to park the fleet and will also include office space. The facility is expected to be completed in August 2026.
“It's extremely exciting finally breaking ground on this project because it has been in the works for several years. To actually see progress being made is amazing, and I believe this is helping us go in the right direction with the program, and we've definitely got the right team for the job,” CityBus Supervisor Marie Wyer said. “I can't wait for it to be completed, I think it's going to be amazing. The drivers currently maintain and prepare buses outside in a variety of weather conditions, so the indoor facility provides a safer work environment for our team. A main benefit will be the indoor housing for the vehicles in the fleet so they won't be out in the wind and rain and snow and other inclement weather, and that also reduces the risk of any vandalism. The drivers will be able to prepare everything safely and indoors instead of having to be out in the dark and in possibly inclement weather, so it's also definitely a matter of safety. Liberal is a wonderful community, and we're very proud to be able to be part of it and help serve and provide transportation.”
More tangible progress on the facility began a couple years ago, Wyer said.
“It was about two years ago when we started making some actual progress in our current direction. There has been the desire for a facility for a long time, and there have been discussions going on for a long time, and getting all of the funding and everything else going has been what's prevented progress,” Wyer said. “It was about a year and a half ago then when we started looking at contractors and all of that.”
“There was a lot of relief when this project started moving forward more and actually making some tangible progress,” Assistant City Manager Brad Beer said. “Of course, when you're dealing with government funding, that always takes time and the money has to actually be available. I think it's a great project and it'll be great for the city.”
Wyer said she will be excited for the facility to be completed.
“I'll be really excited when we'll be able to move the buses in. I'm excited to have a safe indoor facility for the fleet, that will be the best and our drivers will be able to take care of everything indoors in one spot,” Wyer said. “I want to thank everyone who's been involved with this project, I know there's been a lot of hard work and a lot of time involved in it. I also have to express appreciation to our late CityBus Supervisor, Rodney Kapp, because he was instrumental in making this project possible. He was a true servant for the City of Liberal, and this new facility will be named in his honor. We were happy to have his wife and family in attendance to see a dream of his come closer to fruition.”
