By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — KABS could unveil a new deviated fixed route in the Warsaw-Winona Lake area this summer if the plan is adopted.
Two different routes were unveiled for consideration during a special meeting on Tuesday at the Warsaw Community Public Library.
Deviated routes allow the driver to stray slightly off course to pick up customers who can’t make it to established bus stops.
Both routes focus on Warsaw but one tracks further to the north to include Walmart and the other ventures into Winona Lake and Grace College.
General Manager Kristin Rude said officials will choose one route this summer if the pilot program moves forward.
The idea of adding a fixed route has been in the works for several years and has the support of both the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Michiana Area of Council of Governments.
It’s been more than two decades since KABS last operated a fixed route.
Rude said INDOT has said that it believes the population of Warsaw and Winona Lake merit consideration of a fixed route, Rude said.
The new route could deviate up to two times per hour within a half-mile radius of the route.
She said KABS ridership has been on the rise since the pandemic and said she believes establishing a fixed route could continue that.
“You’re getting more people on the bus, you’re serving more people with fewer resources, right? So we do foresee efficiency … in serving more people with less resources,” Rude said.
Cardinal Services, which oversees KABS, is excited about the possible change, said Marcie Arndt, vice president of programs.
“There are transportation barriers in the community and we know that the proposal of the deviated fixed route will help solve some of those,” Arndt said.
While the route could serve various customers, it would also benefit Cardinal Clients.
“Depending on where the routes end up landing, we’ve got people who … have transportation barriers,” she said.
KABS is continuing to seek input on the idea of routes. You can email Rude at kristin.rude@cardinalservices.org.
If approved, the route could be up and running before the end of the year, Rude said.
