"We have had a 20 percent increase in ridership," Smith said of the service's growth this past year. "It's remarkable how many people want to ride."
Smith said several other cities in Kansas including Hutchinson, Salina and Emporia, roughly the size of Manhattan, are gearing up to have fixed bus routes.
"KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) can't believe Manhattan doesn't have fixed routes," Smith said.
With the census in 2010, the city could become eligible for funds to help the city support a mass transit system such as has been envisioned for years but never implemented.
It could also better serve Kansas State University and Fort Riley, and alleviate some of the housing issues that students and young professionals who are new to Manhattan face.
"K-State students would ride if they didn't mind walking a half block to a bus route for a home that is a little farther from K-State," Smith said.
She said K-State will be a major player in getting fixed routes in Manhattan. Her proposal suggests that a fee be added onto the student's bill and they "essentially ride the bus for free."
Smith sees Manhattan having fixed bus routes in about two years but further in the future, she said, "we'll let demand decide what we do," from there.
Before she had dreams of mass transit in Manhattan, Smith was a bus driver. She started with ATA Bus about seven years ago and worked her way up to dispatcher before being named director. Having done all the jobs that she is now supervising makes her a knowledgeable and problem solving director.
"There is nothing that comes up that I haven't experienced," Smith said.
Being the boss does have its perks. Smith said one of the best parts of her job is "knowing we are making a positive impact on residents in Manhattan and Riley County."
Smith said she gets calls from people saying they could not live in their houses without ATA Bus to come get them.
"Without buses, there would be negative consequences for residents."
According the the August numbers, ATA Bus provided 2,761 rides to Riley County residents. The system averages about 131 rides a day. When she started as a driver, ''we had about 50 to 60 rides a day, and that was busy," she said.
The majority of the current riders remain, as has always been the case, the elderly and disabled, making up about 75 percent of the ridership.
From last year, Smith said she has seen a 40 percent increase in ridership and looks to see the same increases in the future. With increases so large, not everyone is guaranteed a ride whenever the buses run.
"We try very hard not to have to turn people down, but sometimes we just have to," Smith said. "Our riders understand that they have to be flexible sometimes."
Though she is in the boss' chair, Smith said she plans to get back in the driver's seat soon so she can stay in contact with her riders and because "it's fun."
