HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners gave approval to a revised schedule for Rcat as part of its consent agenda during Tuesday’s meeting.
As of June 3, Rcat will have five bus driver positions vacant and has had openings since November. Since that time, only six applications have been turned in with only one person hired. Because of that, Rcat will reduce its schedule. The temporary change in operating hours will be
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Demand Response will operate exclusively on Saturday with no fixed routes until they are able to hire more drivers. The changes begin July 1.
Currently, Rcat operates 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and operates three Fixed Routes and Paratransit on Saturday. Rcat says it is working to develop new recruitment tactics to attract applicants. Rcat Director Barb Lilyhorn says she expects the driver shortage to last several months in a best-case scenario.
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