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Public transportation isn’t just an urban convenience; it’s also a lifeline for rural communities. That message came through loud and clear in the latest Transit Unplugged podcast featuring Ginny Smith, Executive Director of the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority (CGCTA). The Transit Unplugged podcast is hosted by Paul Comfort, former transit executive and current SVP at Modaxo, and features interviews with transit leaders on industry challenges, opportunities, and trends of the future.
Smith explains how rural transit systems like hers connect people to jobs, healthcare and education, ensuring that residents without access to a car can still reach opportunity. In regions with fewer transportation options, these services are essential to maintaining both independence and economic stability.
The episode explores how CGCTA is meeting rural challenges with creativity and innovation. From operating vanpools and regional routes that link workers to major employers, to partnering with Southeast Missouri State University to provide campus transit with live bus tracking, CGCTA proves that small systems can have a big impact. The agency even collaborates with intercity carriers like FlixBus and Greyhound to restore long-distance connections, expanding access beyond county lines and giving riders more freedom to travel out of the region.
Smith also highlights how rural transit providers are embracing technology and resourceful funding strategies to improve service and safety. By adopting AI-based monitoring systems, data-driven planning tools and community partnerships, agencies like CGCTA are modernizing operations despite tight budgets. The conversation is a reminder that innovation in transit isn’t limited to large cities and when rural systems thrive, entire communities benefit.