[College Hill Topeka] Fwd: Bus fares required starting February 1

[Katrina Shaw]

A neighbor asked that I add to the previous email sent regarding Topeka
Metro:

“The proposed reductions in service (would have affected folks in College
Hill) will NOT happen.  This is good news as the reductions were fairly
draconian in nature.”



*TOPEKA, KANSAS (January 28, 2021)* -- On December 21, 2020, the Topeka
Metro board of directors unanimously voted to reinstate all bus fares
beginning February 1, 2021.

Fares have been waived since the last week of March due to the pandemic.

On Monday, February 1, passengers must begin boarding through the front
entrance of the bus and are required to pay fares.

Passengers must have their fare accepted at the farebox or they will not be
allowed to ride.

Topeka Metro's general manager, Bob Nugent, said that as soon as the
decision was made to reinstate fares at the board meeting last month,
communications went out to bus operators, passengers, community
stakeholders and the public to provide notice to plan ahead for the
changes.

"What we want passengers to understand is that in the past, bus operators
may have helped someone with their bus ticket if it wasn't working in our
fare box. The same with money, but because of COVID-19 precautions,
operators have been instructed that if the fare does not work, the
passenger will not ride. Bus riders need to make sure they don't have a
crumpled up bill or bent, frayed or torn pass before they board."

Fares will be required for all fixed route buses, paratransit, and the
Flex.

Masks are still mandatory to ride, and bus operators, although they have a
barrier around their driver's seat, are also required to wear face
coverings.

"It's important that Topeka Metro get back to accepting fare box revenue.
We are assuring those who ride with us that we have continued precautions
to help passengers stay safe and also keep our employees safe," said Nugent.

*Contact:* Keri Renner
Director of Marketing & Communications

Topeka Metro
201 N. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66603
(785) 730-8616
*krenner at topekametro.org* <krenner at topekametro.org>





Rachelle Vega-Retana, Grants Administrator

City of Topeka, Dept. of Planning & Development

Division of Housing Services

620 SE Madison St.  1st Floor – Unit 8

Topeka, Ks. 66607

Phone: (785) 368-4490

Fax:      (785) 368-2546

Email:    rvretana at topeka.org



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