Democratic mayoral candidate Gail Riecken is calling for upgrades of Evansville’s mass transit system.
Riecken says if she’s elected, she’ll work to make METS work better for second and third shift workers, students, and people who work in outlying areas.
She says providing service to suburban areas will require public-private partnerships.
Riecken is also advocating what she calls an “improved service environment,” including more sheltered bus stops, better communication about interruptions or delays, and courteous treatment of passengers and bus drivers.
As for funding the upgrades, Riecken says better service will lead to more riders and more revenue. Almost 80-percent of the local transit system is funded by the federal government.
Riecken spoke to reporters at an unsheltered bus stop at 4th and Mulberry streets, across from the ECHO Clinic.
Riecken faces incumbent Republican Lloyd Winnecke in the November election.