OATS provides rides to more than 26,000 individuals in MO on an annual basis and employs more than 670 residents.
When we talk about transit in the State of Missouri, many times that discussion is centered around the more urban areas – St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia. However, transit is playing a key role in more and more of the rural areas providing service to jobs, healthcare, and other essential trips.
For example, OATS is a private, not-for-profit transportation provider in Missouri serving 87 counties and employing more than 670 individuals in these communities. Below is a chart outlining OATS service for a one-year timeframe demonstrating its direct impact on Missouri’s economy, accessibility and importance to the smaller communities throughout the state. Without this transit service, there would be a direct impact on the state’s economy.
As discussions move forward on funding for transportation at the state level, Missouri legislators need to hear the message that transit has a direct impact on all areas of this state.
| OATS Ridership information for the period 7/1/13 – 6/30/14 |
| TRIP PURPOSE | ONE-WAY TRIPS |
| EMPLOYMENT | 563,812 |
| MEDICAL | 255,867 |
| EN ROUTE STOPS * | 200,291 |
| NUTRITION | 153,068 |
| ESSENTIAL SHOPPING | 123,381 |
| BUSINESS | 94,283 |
| EDUCATION | 70,520 |
| RECREATION | 14,065 |
| TOTAL TRIPS | 1,475,287 |
| TOTAL MILES TRAVELED | 13,154,956 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED | 26,723 |
