HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The director of Reno County Rcat talked with the Reno County Commission about low-floor buses — something new in the smaller transit buses. Barbara Lilyhorn explained the difference between a low-floor bus as compared to what the county is using now.

“A low-floor bus is simply designed so you would no longer have a hydraulic lift that would transport wheelchairs or those who use walkers up to the floor of the bus,” Lilyhorn said. “Everyone entering the bus would come through the same entry and it would be this low floor.”

She says communities cannot receive grant funding at this point, but says three entities in the state have been approached to maybe look at purchasing low-floor buses as part of a pilot project.

“KDOT is reluctant to bring those into the grant process until they get a few out in the state and have some actual use,” Lilyhorn said. “Rcat has been approached, so has Flint Hills Area Transportation and also the Sedgwick County Department of Aging is interested in doing this.”

She says there are some large buses that have the low floor. Smaller buses are now being made with the low floor as well.

She says if Rcat purchased this type of bus, she would have to make sure it would be covered by the budget. She also noted that this is not a done deal, but is something Rcat wants to look into in the future.