CARTS Executive Director Jessica Schultz gave a presentation to the Homer City Council last Monday, Oct. 28, on recent advancements for the organization and what the future might hold for public transportation on the southern Kenai Peninsula.
The Central Area Rural Transit System is a nonprofit public transportation provider operating mainly in the central Kenai Peninsula. However, Schultz said on Monday, CARTS is considering expansion as far south as Homer.
“There’s definitely a disconnect between what we have going on here and services needed down on the southern peninsula,” she told the council. “We would love to expand down there — we’re starting with having conversations to figure out what everybody wants and what the need is.”
The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District recently partnered with the Kenai Peninsula Transportation Committee and created a survey to identify regional public transportation needs throughout the peninsula. According to Schultz, almost 50% of the responses were from Anchor Point and Homer residents.
“The survey results illuminate a significant unmet need within the community, highlighting a strong desire for enhanced transportation options,” she said. “Over half of the respondents indicated they would leverage public transportation for essential activities, such as commuting to work, accessing medical care and engaging in shopping.
“The primary driver behind public transportation usage often stems from the need to access essential services which are frequently concentrated in the central areas. Residents, particularly those who live in outlying communities, often experience limited access to these vital services due to the geographical distance and lack of alternative transportation options.”
Public transportation, Schultz said, therefore serves as “a crucial link” between those outlying communities and the central hub.
Regarding next steps, the CARTS board of directors currently has three open positions, to which residents of the southern peninsula are “strongly encouraged” to apply.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute directly to shaping the future of CARTS and ensuring that the services we provide are truly reflective of the entire peninsula,” Schultz said.
Currently, CARTS has 14 employees and eight dedicated vehicles providing service to the central peninsula, Monday through Saturday, 24 hours per day. Any rides that CARTS is unable to accommodate using their own vehicles are contracted to a local cab company, Schultz said.
Council member Donna Aderhold asked Schultz how operations in both the central and southern peninsula would be funded. Schultz said that was part of the ongoing conversations.
“In order for CARTS to expand, there’s going to have to be community buy-in,” she said. “It’s going to take multiple agencies and individuals, and just the community as a whole, coming together to try and piece together what they think the transportation should look like down in Homer.”
Learn more about CARTS or find the board of directors application online at ridecartsak.org/. For further questions, contact Schultz at 907-262-6345 or jschultz@ridecartsak.org.
Find Schultz’s presentation in full in the Oct. 28 meeting recording, available online at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citycouncil/city-council-regular-meeting-323.
