By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Thursday was a double celebration for Salina's OCCK, Inc.
Not only was the organization celebrating the ribbon cutting opening of its expanded transportation facility in downtown Salina, but it also was announced as one of 26 agencies receiving funds as a part of the Access, Innovation, and Collaboration (AIC) Public Transit Program.
It was such an occasion for celebration that state and federal dignitaries, including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Nuria Fernandez, and FTA Region 7 Regional Administrator Mokhtee Ahmad were greeted with green confetti when the bus that transported them from the Salina Regional Airport pulled into the new, 16,000 square-foot expansion of the OCCK Transportation building at 340 N. Santa Fe Avenue.
The expanded bus facility was funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation and an FTA grant, with support from the City of Salina and OCCK.
"OCCK has always believed that through partnerships, most things can be accomplished," OCCK President and CEO Shelia Nelson-Stout told the crowd assembled. "Many years ago, we began public transportation through a partnership with Salina Regional hospital, KDOT, and FTA. Since that time, we've added many other parties, City of Salina, county commissioners, service organizations, businesses, schools, colleges, to that partnership."
Trell Grinter, OCCK transportation director, told the crowd that since the organization's transportation program first began in 2005, OCCK Transportation has provided more than four million rides to people of central and north-central Kansas while logging millions of miles statewide.
"Transportation in Kansas is such an important tool. It connects people to the places and things that they need to live healthy and vibrant lives. It's not just for seniors and people with disabilities, but we pride ourselves on safe, affordable, quality, efficient transportation for people of all ages and abilities," said Michelle Griffin, OCCK mobility manager.
Griffin noted that transit supports both large and small communities in both rural and urban areas. It helps people get to and from work, school, medical appointments, shopping, visiting friends, and anywhere else they need to go.
"It helps us protect our rural areas, it promotes economic development, and it helps to curb social isolation," she said.
Lorenz said Salina was a shining example for the state, and even the nation, for what rural transit can do for people.
After referencing the KU men's basketball championship win, Lorenz said, "As you think about it, we're here today to celebrate more big wins for the State of Kansas. It's a team sport, transportation, and the wins that we are celebrating are that when we make investments, we expand people's access to healthcare, jobs, education now and in the future."
Lorenz explained that the team aspect of transportation was the collaboration between local, state, and federal government, as well as strong partnerships with the private sector and non-profit organizations.
"And, perhaps what is often overlooked is we need communities working together, working regionally. And that's what I want to underscore here today, the regional aspect of what you all deliver, because people's transportation needs aren't confined to just a city or a county line or a state line, and we shouldn't try to deliver service that way," Lorenz said.
"You'd be hardpressed to find a better example of regional transit than right here in north-central Kansas," she added.
Fernandez, who brought with her a number of officials from the regional and national FTA offices, praised OCCK and its partners for having a vision about transportation.
"Partnership cannot happen without a vision, I'm sorry," Fernandez said. "The fact that you all have established a vision, and a vision that has expanded. You started out small, and not only are you serving this county, but you have gone beyond many more counties and have created this regional transportation system that's so vital. It's so vital."
Fernandez said she would share information about what OCCK and its partners have accomplished.
"Mark my words. I will be using what's going on here and how you've been able to broaden into the community and into this region in many of my speeches and I will be sharing that also with Secretary Buttigieg, who I bring regards to all of you from, because it is so important for all of us to tell these stories. These are the stories that matter," she said.
A welcome home
Kelly told the crowd that while she was on the bus from the airport, Salina Mayor Trent Davis welcomed her home.
The governor, who was born in New York City, lived in Salina when she first moved to Kansas in the mid-1980s.
"It was a bit of a shock to my system, but the longer I was here and the more I got to know the people, the more I began to recognize what an incredible community Salina is. The fact that there are so many of you here this morning to celebrate this was exactly what I felt when I lived here in the '80s, was this sense of community like no other community, the willingness of people to use their own blood, sweat, and tears to get things done," Kelly said.
"Its the people in this area, the people who live in Salina who really are so incredible and make this and incredible place to live and make something like this possible," she added.
Kelly told the federal officials that the state was glad for them to be here to see first hand how Kansans were optimizing FTA funding.
"What you see happening here in Salina is a prime example of a community and a region working together to make public transportation a viable option for many Kansans. This $2 million facility expansion project was made possible by state and federal funds and with investments by both the City of Salina and OCCK," Kelly said.
More than eight million rides are provided by public transit in urban areas and approximately three million rides in rural communities each year, she said.
"For some, transit is a choice. For others, it's the only way to access services and jobs. Projects announced today will help continue our efforts to help Kansans access jobs, healthcare, and other essential services," Kelly said.
According to information from the governor's office, new funding announced today for OCCK is more than $1.2 million for the following.
●Mobility hubs and stop improvement, $84,600
●Second floor renovation, $270,316
●81 Connection expansion (Saturdays), $54,812
●CityGo+ - microtransit pilot in Salina, $250,400
●Fixed route enhancements - Software and Bus Equipment, $570,769
Other AIC Kansas 2022 Selected Projects announced today include the following.
Butler County Department on Aging, Technology Upgrade, $1,552
Community Health Center (CHC) - Southeast Kansas (SEK) in Crawford County, Regional Transportation Facility for SEK, $1,043,802
City of Liberal, Transit Program Signage, $172,800
City of Wilson, Bus Facility, $40,000
Clay County Task Force, New Bus for Clay County, $63,000
COF Training Services, Inc. in Franklin County, 2021 Bus Replacement, $51,746
Coffey County Transportation, Bus and Bus Facility Improvements, $25,600
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc. (DSNWK) in Ellis County
●8-Passenger Bus w/ 4-Wheelchair Capacity, $71,702
●Building & Equipment Updates, $87,412
Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency (FHATA) - serving Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties
●Safety & Security Upgrades to FHATA Facility, $20,000
●Covered Bus Parking Lot at the FHATA Facility, $57,750
●Junction City Regional Transit Facility, $900,000
●K-18 Connector Expansion, $370,980
●Junction City Fixed Route Bridge Funding, $157,500
●Real Time Passenger Information Devices, $9,600
●Microtransit Study, $54,000
●Zero Emissions Vehicle Study, $20,000
Futures Unlimited – Sumner County, Transportation Facility Renovation, $221,060
Hetlinger Developmental Services – Lyon County, Three-Stall Bus Barn, $81,865
Johnson County Transit
●EV Micro Transit Service, $374,526
●Technology Improvements for RideKC, $382,500
Lawrence Transit
●Equitable & Accessible Bus Stops, $122,040
●Multimodal Transfer Facility Elements, $1,624,000
●Microtransit Pilot, $124,000
●Zero-Emissions Transition Plan, $120,000
●Technology, Accessibility and Branding Enhancements, $676,448
Lyon County Transportation (LCAT), Security Camera Expansion, $12,000
Leavenworth County, Secure Parking Area for Transit Vehicles, $525,000
Morris County, Public Transportation Facility, $507,465
Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging – Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha and Washington counties, Clean Technology Expansion, $234,509
Osage County, New Vehicles, $222,400
Rooks County, Bus Garage Project, $620,928
Sedgwick County Department on Aging, Vehicle Camera Systems, $32,000
Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) – Crawford and Neosho counties, Innovative Scheduling, $103,437
Solomon Valley Transportation – Jewell, Mitchell and Osborne counties, Building Project, $1,484,290
The Guidance Center – Leavenworth, Transit Technology Implementation, $25,747
Unified Government Transit
●Bus Facility Modernization, $431,778
●Fleet Modernization, $271,440
●Paratransit Software Enhancements, $16,560
●Accident Incident Management System, $15,300
●Micro Transit Expansion, $394,144
●Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Pilot Program, $124,168
Wabaunsee County, Fleet Expansion and Barriers, $87,210