MOUNT VERNON—Proposed changes to Knox Area Transit’s Kenyon shuttle route will increase punctuality, efficiency, and flexibility.
“A couple of stops are being highly used, and several are not being used,” Transit Director Bethany Celmar told the commissioners on Tuesday. “The way it’s been written, it’s impossible to stay on time. It does not give you flexibility if there are traffic or other issues.
“It’s essential to keep on time,” she added, “so we’ll take out some of these stops and put more time between stops.”
Celmar plans to eliminate stops at the Gund Gallery Annex, Mount Vernon Public Square, Gambier Homes, and Premiere Movie Theaters.
The revised route is:
•Wright Center, South Main Street, Mount Vernon
•South student parking, Duff Street, Gambier
•Kenyon Bookstore, Gaskin Avenue
•Walmart Supercenter, Coshocton Avenue
•Knox Community Hospital ER, Coshocton Avenue
•Kroger, Coshocton Avenue
KAT will retain the ER stop even though it is not highly utilized so that students can access Conway’s Pharmacy.
The route is a “deviated route,” which means drivers can go up to three-fourths of a mile off the path.
“Giving more time between stops allows us to take a student to Rural King or Fiesta Mexicana,” Celmar explained. “We’re already doing it, but it’s throwing us off schedule. We need to do it within the schedule.”
Kenyon shuttle ridership is steady in the afternoon and heavy in the evening.
Because morning ridership is low, Celmar will talk with Kenyon officials about starting at noon or 2 p.m. rather than 8 a.m.
Celmar hopes to have the changes take effect in mid-August before school starts.
Ridership
Knox Area Transit ridership is up significantly compared to 2023, although it has dipped slightly during the summer with Kenyon College on summer break.
July ridership was 6,112 compared to 5,617 in 2023. The number of passengers and individual public riders is also higher than last year.
“We are steadily busier than we were at this point last year,” Celmar said.
KAT struggles with staffing issues, including drivers on vacation or dealing with family or health issues. Celmar said it reached the point of denying trips.
“We hate that. We understand that people are dependent on us,” she said.
KAT hired two part-time drivers and plans to hire more.
