Amarillo City Transit (ACT) officials said a travel training session would be held Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the downtown transfer terminal at 219 S. Fillmore, and referenced ACT representatives will be available to provide information and travel planning for the route changes. Riders will only be able to board and alight at the downtown terminal, per officials, noting ride times will be between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the route.
“We currently have eight routes that begin at 6:20 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.,” Marita Wellage-Reiley, city transit director said. “We will be expanding to 13 routes that will be much more direct, allowing for less time to travel to the end of the route. The current routes begin downtown and go out into the neighborhoods, but we are going to reverse that, starting routes in the neighborhoods and going downtown.”
The Aug. 18 travel training will focus on routes serving E. Amarillo Blvd., areas south of I-40, east of I-27 and west of I-27 on SW 34th St, officials said. Participants can ride up to three different routes every 45 minutes from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
ACT officials said the routes, names and numbers are changing, hence the outreach initiative allowing for route tests. Officials said a grocer would be included on every new route while there are three routes slated to Westgate Mall. Additionally, each of the three Amarillo College campuses will have direct service. Last month five informational meetings centered around the route changes were conducted at various Amarillo libraries.
WHEN, WHERE
Officials said a travel training event held Aug. 11 provided residents with an opportunity to travel along routes navigating the North Heights area, as well as Hilltop Senior Center, Thompson Park, Westgate Mall, Independence Village and the hospital district.
“I’m appreciative of the opportunity to get a feel for what the new routes are like before they go with the real deal later this month,” Ian Snell, an Amarillo resident, said. “I use city transit to go all over the place, so this gives me a chance to get my schedule down pat and not worry about being late. Arrive early and beat the rush, that’s my credo.”
Nicole Frazier agreed with Snell’s assessment.
“I’m thinking about doing something a little different and considering using city transit to get to work,” she said. “I certainly wouldn’t be in favor of doing so without testing out the viability first, though. Feeling good about the new changes will bring a new home friendly budget. I’m looking forward to the travel training.”
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