(Atlantic, Iowa; article submitted) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), based in Atlantic, says while the national narrative on public transit has been a little bleak lately, and despite some urban trends, rural transit ridership is on the rise.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred record investment in transit systems, but also caused a major disruption in lifestyles and transit ridership numbers. The rise in remote work and more abnormal work schedules has caused ridership to dip in some major metropolitan areas. Fluctuation in fare money and other funding has caused budgeting problems. All these things aren’t necessarily true in a rural setting.

SWITA Transit Director Mark Lander says the organization, which serves eight Southwest Iowa counties, has in fact seen record ridership post-pandemic, while maintaining a very cost-efficient system. Lander said the agency’s success can be attributed to several factors. “We are structured differently as a rural system. Urban areas rely on a lot of fixed routes and funding from fares and local taxes. We offer more flexible options and much of the funding comes from the federal and state level. We can operate much more like a private sector transportation firm, offering what people want and need as best we can.” Lander said another thing that helped SWITA weather the pandemic was the fact that they never shut down. “People still needed to get places like work or the grocery store, and we kept serving them,” he said.

SWITA driver Larry Anderson, (Photo provided)

SWITA had a record 526,300 riders in fiscal year 2023 and has seen record numbers year over year the past three years. Lander credits his staff and drivers for helping achieve those numbers, “We’ve been willing to do what some others don’t want to. We’ve continued to increase workforce rides, taxi offerings, and student transportation.” One problem some of the major metro areas have run into is their systems were designed to get a lot of people downtown and back out at peak commute times. Many work schedules have changed to a different number of office days, or different times of day so they are trying to adapt to those changes. The workforce routes SWITA supports are set schedules so it’s much more predictable.

This past September, SWITA received an award from the Federal Transit Administration Region 7 for highest rural transit ridership in Iowa for fiscal year 2022. SWITA topped that list in fiscal year 2023 as well. After receiving that award SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said, “Awards because of big numbers are nice, but what is really important is what those numbers represent. SWITA is getting people in Southwest Iowa where they need to go—including to work, school, and medical appointments. The SWITA staff bend over backwards to meet the needs of our clients because they know every trip is important to that client.”

Officials say not only has SWITA continued to see ridership grow, but those rides are being provided at the lowest cost per ride of any rural transit system in the state. In the past fiscal year SWITA achieved a cost average of $9.12 per ride, which is nearly $3 more efficient than the next closest region. The statewide average cost per ride was $20.87.

SWITA transportation is accessible to everyone in the region, including the disabled population and elderly, but you don’t have to be elderly or disabled or meet income guidelines to ride. SWITA vehicles are equipped with wheelchair accessibility and one personal care attendant rides free. SWITA transportation is affordable: taxi rides are $2.50 per trip or $2.00 per trip for elderly clients (60 years and older) with collaboration from Connections Area Agency on Aging; medical trips are $30 per hour; Summer Fun Bus rides are $1 per trip or $40 for the full summer; other special trips are $40 per hour.

For questions or to request a ride, contact SWITA at 712-243-2518 or 1-800-842-8065.

UPDATE 1/8/24: Due to the impending winter storm, the City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment meeting scheduled for this evening (1/8/24) has been postponed. KJAN will let you know when a reschedule date is established.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will meet 5:30-p.m. Monday, January 8th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, in Atlantic. The Board will take nominations for their Vice-Chair, and act on an Order to approved the proposed nominee.

In other business, the Board will conduct a Public Hearing to Consider a Conditional Use Permit Application by Massena Telephone Company. Zoning Commissioner John Lund says the company – which is expanding its fiber-optic network to serve residents and businesses in Atlantic – wants to install and operate a communications shelter (structure) to house its fiber-optic line terminals and associated electronics.

The company has an agreement to purchase the property currently identified as 703 East 14th Street (The old YMCA), from Compass Properties. The agreement is contingent upon Massena Telephone’s ability to get a conditional use permit and building permits for the proposed structure.  The proposed site is in a R-2 Low Density Single Family Residential District, and according to the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, falls within the purview of a Conditional Use Permit Transferring to a New Lot  that “Shall be Identified as 1400 South Olive Street,” in Atlantic.

Discussion and a vote on the Conditional Use Permit Application by Massena Telephone Company will follow the public hearing. The Board of Adjustment will follow action on the permit by discussion on future meeting dates and times. The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning will meet at 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9th, to review and vote on the site plan for the project, IF the Board of Adjustment approves the Conditional Use Permit during their meeting, Monday, and pending regulatory approval.

City Administrator John Lund will also provide the Committee an update on the City’s Comprehensive Plan and changes needed to the Zoning Ordinance.

View the BOA’s meeting packet here: Board of Adjustment E-packet 01-08-2024-min

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Mills County Sheriff Josh England reports three recent arrests. Two men were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday: 35-year-old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested at around 12:40-a.m., for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300; And, 34-year-old Dustin Allen Hanshaw, of Clarinda, was arrested at around 10-p.m., for Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

On Thursday, Mills County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 49-year-old Dustin Clark Anglen, of Malvern, for OWI/2nd offense. Bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – News about the fatal shooting at the Perry High School Thursday, spread quickly. Students in or just arriving at, the school, messaged their parents when they learned what happened. Kevin Shelley tells K-G-R-A radio he was at his job, working on a garbage truck, when he got a text from his son Zander, a sophomore at Perry High, saying he’d heard shots and was hiding — and hurt.

Shelley said his son was only grazed by a bullet and he was headed to the hospital. School staff were preparing for the first day back from the Winter break, when their routine was shattered by a fire alarm. Lori Meinecke is a teacher at Perry High. She tells K-G-R-A radio she was in the school early on Thursday.

Meinecke says she followed proper procedures, getting herself and others out and away from danger as quickly as possible.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A presentation was held for a long-range rail transportation plan for the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO). The Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association revealed plans for its 2050 long-range transportation plan. SIMPCO said the plan is a tool for developing safe and efficient transportation improvements in the region for the next 25 years.

Part of the plan includes the possibility of adding a passenger rail that would connect Sioux City to other hubs. The Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association said they are planning to get approval for the plan by November of this year.

The federal government has sponsored a study to see parts of the country would benefit from an Amtrak rail. That study will be submitted to Congress later this year.

GAZA, Iowa (KCAU) — There’s officially a candidate going up against incumbent 4^th District Representative Randy Feenstra in the Republican Party, for his seat in Congress. Kevin Virgil held a campaign launch meet-and-greet Thursday at the Producers Coop in Gaza, Iowa.

Virgil told KCAU-TV he thinks a true conservative should run and serve the district, when taking into account much of the community’s political preferences. He said based on Feenstra’s voting record over the last two terms, it’s apparent Feenstra isn’t what the area needs. He said they want an alternative, and he’s a better choice to represent the constituents.

Ryan Melton is the only Democrat vying for the state’s 4th congressional district in the U.S. house of representatives.

(Blair, NE) – The case of a 43-year-old Sioux City, Iowa man accused of killing a Nebraska priest will go to trial next month. Kierre Williams, who is charged with first-degree murder, was bound over to district court during an appearance in Washington County, NE, court Wednesday.

Williams is also accused of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, burglary, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person in the killing of Rev. Stephen Gutgsell. Gutgsell was killed during a break-in at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in December. Deputies received a 911 call from Gutgsell, who, according to court documents, said there was a man armed with a knife in his kitchen. Within minutes, deputies arrived and found Williams inside the church rectory, along with the priest. Court documents say the responding deputy found Gutgsell near the kitchen in the rectory. He appeared to had a severe laceration and was bleeding profusely. Father Gutgsell was taken to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, where he died.

Williams is scheduled to appear in court next on Feb. 6. He remains held in the Washington, County, NE, jail.