Iowa City Area Transit Study (ICATS) consultant Nelson/Nygaard has proposed three service scenarios for area transit agencies following extensive collection of data and public input. Area transit providers, including the University of Iowa, will be hosting public open house events Tuesday, January 28 through Thursday, January 30 to receive feedback on the proposed scenarios. CAMBUS will host their open house at the Iowa Memorial Union on Wednesday, January 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Public feedback and comment remain a top priority for the study. At open houses the consultants will present brief information about the process thus far, vision for transit in the area, and discuss the scenarios. Then the forum will transition into an open house format that allows attendees to interact in small groups or 1-on-1 with consultants or transit managers. Scenario feedback will be used to develop a preferred alternative scenario for final consideration and feedback.
Since Fall 2019, CAMBUS has been collaborating with Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit on a comprehensive operational analysis of area transit services. Surveys and open houses allowed both riders and non-riders to provide input for the scenarios.
Quick links: Open House Schedule | Scenarios | Survey
Open House Schedule
City of Iowa City Open House
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library
University of Iowa CAMBUS
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), Divine Nine Room, Room 355
City of Coralville Open House
Thursday, January 30, 2020 | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Coralville City Council Chambers
Scenarios
Click here to view service scenario maps, descriptions, and bus frequency time tables.
Scenario 1: Frequency
Agencies impacted: CAMBUS, Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit
Summary of improvements:
- Services shifted to major streets so it is faster and more direct
- New 15-minute all-day weekend routes:
- Iowa City Transit: Oakcrest, Towncrest
- CAMBUS: Hawkeye-Hospitals-Pentacrest route
- Approximately 30,000 residents and 30,000 jobs will be within 1/4 mile of all-day 15-minute service
- Routes no longer change their alignments at night and on weekends
- Hawk Lot service is more consistent and frequent throughout the day from the Pentacrest and hospitals
Summary of trade-offs:
- Eight Iowa City Transit Routes, three CAMBUS routes, and two Coralville Transit routes are consolidated into other routes
- Some low-ridership areas no longer have service and some riders will have a longer walk to their bus stop
Scenario 2: Simplified Coverage
Agencies impacted: CAMBUS, Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit
Summary of improvements:
- Service on many routes shifted onto major streets so it is faster and more direct
- Overlapping routes reduced, making the system easier to understand
- New 15-minute all-day weekday route:
- CAMBUS: Hawkeye-Hospitals-Pentacrest
- Approximately 23,000 residents and 31,000 jobs will be within 1/4 mile of all-day 15-minute service
- Iowa City Transit: Oakcrest and Towncrest routes operated every 30 minutes later into the weekday nights and Saturdays
- Routes no longer change their alignments at night and on weekends
- Hawk Lot service is more consistent and frequent throughout the day from the Pentacrest and hospitals
Summary of impacts:
- Four Iowa City Transit routes, four CAMBUS routes, and one Coralville Transit route are consolidated into other routes.
- Several low-ridership areas no longer have service and some riders will have a longer walk to their bus stop
Scenario 3: Restructure and Improve Weekends and Evenings (Iowa City Transit only)
Agencies impacted: Iowa City Transit
Summary of improvements:
- Service on many routes is shifted onto major streets so it is faster and more direct.
- Overlapping routes are reduced, making the system easier to understand.
- Approximately 14,000 residents and 28,000 jobs will be within 1/4 mile of all-day 15-minute service
- All regular Iowa City Transit routes operate until 10 p.m. on weekdays
- All regular Iowa City Transit routes operate longer each Saturday
- On-demand service is offered in Iowa City and University Heights. Small buses would start in downtown Iowa City every hour and distribute riders throughout Iowa City. Walk-up pickups in downtown would be possible, but a phone call an or more ahead would be necessary to reserve a ride.
- All Iowa City Transit routes operate every 30 minutes during weekday midday periods.
- A new Walmart Westside route connects higher-density neighborhoods with the Walmart on Highway 6.
Summary of impacts:
- Seven Iowa City Transit routes are consolidated into other routes.
- Some riders will have a longer walk to their bus stop.
- Some neighborhoods are no longer directly served by fixed-route transit.
Click here to view service scenario maps, descriptions, and bus frequency time tables.
Survey
The community is also invited to provide feedback on the service through an online survey. The survey goes through each route of each scenario to collect feedback. You may choose to skip routes and scenarios you do not wish to comment on.
Accessibility
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact CAMBUS in advance at 319-335-8633.
About CAMBUS
CAMBUS is the University of Iowa’s student operated, no fare public transit system that provides fixed-route service throughout campus and demand-response paratransit services for qualifying persons with disabilities. CAMBUS works in collaboration with other Parking and Transportation Department units to provide and support access and mobility for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. For more information about our services visit https://transportation.uiowa.edu/cambus or call (319) 335-8633.