MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Transit launched its new website last week, one visible result of two years of behind-the-scenes work.
The website joins KCT’s new name and look as part of the transit agency’s rebranding.
“This has been a lot of work and a lot of effort. It’s very rewarding to see things start to pay off,” Transit Director Bethany Celmar told the county commissioners.
Celmar joined KCT, formerly Knox Area Transit, in 2022. A novice to the transit world, she spoke with County Administrator Jason Booth about the county’s vision of a professionally run organization that runs smoothly and has good operations.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that at the time, there were a lot of complaints about transit. The common word used for the way it was running at that time was chaos, and it really was,” Celmar said.
Late arrivals, miscommunication, overbooking, and a sarcastic, negative culture were among the agency’s problems.
“Everyone knew there were issues, but no one could agree on what they were or who was responsible for what,” Celmar said.
Acknowledging it was difficult to know where to start, Celmar set to work.
“It was kind of like a tangled ball of yarn. Every time we would focus on one issue, it seemed to be connected to about seven other ones that we had to fix first,” she said.
Perseverance pays off
Although Celmar and her staff often faced discouragement and the desire to give up, they persevered.
“We stuck with this, and I’m very proud to say that we are a professionally running organization,” she said. “We have a 97% on-time performance, and we are clearly communicating when we will be there, the time range — all of those difficulties have fallen off.”
Additionally, Celmar said a “kind, courteous person” answers the phone to schedule rides, radio discourse is professional, and no one feels “like they’re getting beat up when they go to work.”
Celmar said someone referred to the changes as “lipstick on a pig.”
“This is definitely not lipstick on a pig.”
Bethany celmar, knox county transit director
“This is not the same organization at all, and it’s hard to convey that for people that don’t live it and are not in the office all the time. But we who work there notice it is so much different than before,” she said.
“So that is why we are really, really proud not only to have the new website but the new name and the new wraps on the buses.”
‘It doesn’t matter what you call us, just call us’
Celmar said people apologize for referring to the transit agency as KAT (Knox Area Transit) or MOTA (Mid-Ohio Transit Agency).
She is fine with whatever name people use.
“Call it KAT, call it Knox County Transit, or just call it transit. Just call us for a ride,” she said.
When it was called Knox Area Transit, a separate board oversaw the agency. The board dissolved, and Knox County Job & Family Services ran the agency on behalf of the county.
The commissioners decided they wanted to be more hands-on, so they removed transit from JFS’ oversight and created a separate transit department.
“As we’ve worked through that, it became apparent it needed to be called Knox County Transit because that’s what it is,” Booth said. “It belongs to the county now, and the commissioners are ultimately responsible for it.”
Booth said he is proud of what Celmar has accomplished.
“This is a combination of her leadership over the last two plus years,” he said. “I told her, I don’t care if you don’t know anything about transit. We just need somebody to run an organization and mold an organization. I think that’s exactly what she has done.”
“I agree with that. We appreciate you coming and and getting this ship in the direction that it really needed to go,” Commissioner Bill Pursel said.
“It’s been a journey that I want to take the time to celebrate right now and be proud of what we are and who we are, and then show those new buses and the new logo,” Celmar said.
Two KCT buses and one van have been wrapped in the new colors. The contractor takes about a week to complete each vehicle.
New website, new name, new era for Knox County Transit
The website knoxcountytransit.com is interactive and easy to navigate, and it lists KCT’s routes and fares.
Celmar noted the flex routes will start in June. Riders will not have to call and schedule a ride; they can go directly to the stops and catch a bus.
The flex routes are technically called deviated routes. That means the bus can deviate two blocks off the route between stops to pick up someone who has mobility issues getting to a bus stop.
Celmar anticipates finalizing the routes and stops in the next few days. Ultimately, the plan is to make the flex routes interactive so that people waiting at a stop can see where the bus is on the route.
Until the flex routes start, riders must call KCT to schedule a ride. After the flex routes start, the agency will retain the on-demand rides as part of its service.
KCT will launch “Fare Free May” for in-county rides.
In June, KCT will lower fares. Fares for Zone 1 will be $1 each way, and Zone 2 will be $3. Zone 3 will be $5. Out-of-county fares will be $5 per trip plus $1 per mile.
The flex routes and Night Bus are free.
KCT offers a 50% discount to veterans, seniors 60 and older, students, first responders, and individuals with disabilities.
“People who utilized the service three or five years ago need to give it a try now because it is vastly different,” Booth said.
“It doesn’t mean the organization is perfect. But they are working hard … and it’s a completely different organization.”
Celmar said, “We’re excited and just want people to know we’re listening to feedback.”
