Columbia to hear an update on the future of GO COMO bus routes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia City Council is scheduled to meet at city hall on Monday at 7:00 p.m. to discuss agenda items including a report on the future of GO COMO bus routes.

In their most recent update, GO COMO is suggesting that combining routes would be the best option as they are still short 11 full-time drivers.

GO COMO says, they are intending to combine their current six routes into three in August.

For months now, the public transit for the city has been considering combining its routes after dealing with staffing shortages. On a Friday in April, GO COMO combined its routes for the day due to staffing reasons.

In January, GO COMO presented the city with data that showed they haven't had the minimum number of drivers to not require overtime which is 45, in the past five years.

In addition, GO COMO says drivers are still working a mandatory 12 hours per week of overtime and the use of paratransit service is increasing monthly causing a demand on drivers, which in all is taxing to their staff.

Adam Thorp, Chair of the Public Transit Advisory Commission sent a letter to the city saying he also believes a temporary cut in bus frequency is necessary to help preserve the overall system.

However, Thorp says the cut should be accompanied by an increase in bus driver pay to address the shortage.

Also included in the update, GO COMO says they have ordered six additional electric buses, two natural gas buses, and four paratransit vans they hope to have for the fiscal year 2024.