This week, Open Plains Transit celebrates Nebraska Public Transit Week with the riders who use our services and the hardworking employees who keep things moving. The statewide celebration runs from April 6th through the 12th.
What is Nebraska Public Transit Week (NPTW)? This statewide initiative aims to highlight the pivotal role of public transit in fostering accessibility, sustainability, and community connectivity across the state. In collaboration with public transit providers throughout the state, Nebraska Public Transit Week is intended to highlight the benefits and opportunities public transportation has to offer.
According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, in Nebraska, 5.1% of households do not have access to a vehicle. Public transit options, in both rural and urban communities, are vital to these Nebraskans, as well as those who cannot drive a personal vehicle. In 2023, Nebraska’s rural transit providers traveled over four million miles with over 600,000 passenger boardings connecting people across the state to essential medical care, education, employment opportunities, and freedom of mobility in their day-to-day lives. Open Plains Transit traveled 235,229 of these miles with over 8,580 rural passenger boardings (not including intercity bus trips).
Per the 2024 NPTW press release distributed by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, while urban providers have the largest ridership, they only account for eight of the fifty-eight public transit providers in Nebraska. Most rural transit providers offer demand response service, where rides are booked ahead of time and bring passengers to a specific destination, like rideshare programs. (Nebraska has lost some of those providers, but hopefully, have gained a few). In addition to the fifty-eight public transit providers in Nebraska, six agencies operate regularly scheduled intercity routes across the state.
From what Open Plains Transit has been told, beginning July 1, 2025, that number will be reduced to four, maybe less, with two of them operated by Open Plains Transit, based in Alliance, NE. These cover a route from Omaha to Ogallala and all intercity bus routes west of US Route 83 in Nebraska. Why the reduction? Intercity bus providers were informed just a few months ago that there will be no or very little State funds for intercity bus services and were requested to submit operating applications requesting zero. There was not a plan in place by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Local Assistance Division for when CARES Funds were exhausted, and so here we are. Some citizens may feel that this does not affect them, but it affects all of us, our communities and western Nebraska. It is of vital
importance to be able to transport (move) people across our state, east, west, north, south and in and out of it, just as we move other commodities and goods. We do not want to be an island in the middle of our country. We want citizens to reside here, aging in place, choosing to work and do business here, going to our colleges, visiting our state, and wanting to return repeatedly. Please keep in mind, not everyone can drive and not everyone can fly.
Jonnie Kusek, Director of Transportation for Open Plains Transportation, the only intercity bus provider for the Nebraska Panhandle region and beyond, spent two days in Washington, D.C. last month and two days at the Nebraska State Capitol last week, meeting with Congressional Representatives and elected Senators who were available, informing them of the services that OPT provides: from local and intercity transportation, non-emergency medical, NHHS, VA Highly Rural Veterans and working with Indian Health Services. No one was aware of the lack of funding for intercity bus services because it was not cut from the budget, it was not in the budget to begin with, from their understanding. The reason that this is important is that it affects local services and communities. They did see that immediately. Last August, a lead NDOT employee encouraged transit leaders to reach out to elected officials to let them know that more money was needed for public transportation in Nebraska, now they know why. They are now asking you to reach out to your state representatives, not just from your own region, but those surrounding it, as it is all interconnected, and to let them know that additional funding is needed for Nebraska Public Transportation, now. Not just for the Panhandle region, but for intercity bus services across the state.
This year’s NPTW will look a little different, there will be no big celebrations, no swag to give away to our passengers and businesses that support OPT and public transportation, even though it is an allowable cost per the Federal Transportation Administration, the State Auditor claims it is not an allowable cost in Nebraska, as is the case for many items. OPT states that is okay, they will do their part in “cutting the fat,” but there are many items that are needed, but not allowed. They do want their business, healthcare and passenger supporters to know how much they are appreciated every day, even as they ask for your continued support.