As the number of Omicron cases continues to increase the city of Joplin is prepared contingency plans for its public transportation system. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

As of Monday afternoon, according to the Missouri Department of Health, the combined COVID positivity rate between PCR and Antigen tests was 25.95%. Because of those high new case numbers, the city of Joplin has prepared four contingency plans to be able to operate MAPS and the Sunshine Lamp Trolley systems in case of a high number of ill drivers.

One contingency plan would reduce MAPS from six to three routes per day, another would reduce the number of routes to four. Another idea would lower MAPS service to three routes daily and offer condensed trolley service. The fourth and most drastic prospect would eliminate the Sunshine Trolleys and operate MAPS six days a week. Joplin city officials will host two public meetings to discuss the option on Thursday, January 27. The first meeting starts at 1:30 pm, and the second meeting will start at 5:30. Visit Joplinmo.org for more information. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro