City officials want residents' ideas on the direction of public transportation.
The Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold two open houses Monday to gather opinions from Carson City residents about the future of public transportation in the area.
"We're trying to garner as much information as we can so we know what citizens would like to see," said Laura Beckerdite, development engineering assistant. "Maybe a lot of people want to get to Wal-Mart. Maybe people want to be able to get to the airport. This is your time to tell us what you want."
Residents can discuss with planning organization staff and transit consultants their ideas for how transportation should be expanded, and what the transportation needs are in the community.
A few agencies currently provide transportation services in the Carson City area. The Carson City Community Transportation, or CCCT, is a dial-a-ride transit system restricted to seniors and the disabled.
The Douglas Rural Area Transit provides service within rural areas and urbanized areas of Douglas County and overlaps into Carson City at the Wal-Mart shopping center primarily for medical trips.
The Reno to Carson City PRIDE originates in northern Douglas County ending up at the Meadowood Mall in Reno. The service operates Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Another PRIDE service provides rides from Fallon to Carson City.
But Carson City Manager Linda Ritter said she often fields calls from Carson City residents who say there is a need for an expanded and improved fixed public transportation plan.
Beckerdite said the region is now eligible for federal transportation funding as a result of Carson City's recent designation as an urbanized area.
When pooled with existing city transportation dollars, she said, a range of new transportation options may now be feasible.
The planning organization recently hired transit planning consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard to determine the transportation needs of area residents and develop a Short-Range Transit Plan.
At Monday's open houses, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Carson City Senior Center and 4-6 p.m. in the City Hall lobby, poster boards will be displayed describing the planning organization's initial assessment of transportation needs in the area, and the type of transportation that may be considered.
Call Deputy City Engineer John Flansberg for information about the transportation study or open houses.
IF YOU GO
What: Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization open houses
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday
Where: Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive
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When: 4 -6 p.m. Monday
Where: City Hall lobby, 201 N. Carson St.
Contact reporter Robyn Moormeister at rmoormeister@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
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