KY3 out of Springfield, Missouri has reported that OATS Transit services in some rural communities across Southwest Missouri will be temporarily paused starting April 1. Rene Frazier, regional director of OATS Transit, told reporters the non-profit relies in part on federal funding from sources like MoDOT. To draw down those funds they must have a 50% match from local or state funding. Currently, the local matching funds from the Senior Area Agencies on Aging are unavailable. OATS Transit is positive this pause will be temporary. Once the Senior Area Agencies on Aging new fiscal year begins on July 1, additional funding to restart services will be made available. In the meantime, OATS Transit is committed to continuing to provide rides to larger cities such as Springfield.
This news underscores the importance of state transit operating assistance for rural providers. Being able to access federal funds is often dependent on having a local match. The MPTA has prepared a guide to assist transit users and supporters in contacting their legislators regarding House Bill 4 which may cut state funds provided to transit operators significantly. The step-by-step guide is available on the MPTA website here.