Former closed routes to reopen if transit fair hires new drivers

Columbia is taking steps to bring back bus routes that were dropped in 2023 due to driver shortages. The city is hosting a transit job fair Saturday at Wabash Bus Station where it hopes to hire 10 new bus drivers on the spot.

Go COMO Transit Manager Mike Sokoff wants to hire candidates quickly so the canceled bus routes can resume.

"The goal is to interview and potentially make job offers on the spot to streamline the hiring process," Sokoff said.

In 2023, the city's six routes were combined into three, according to previous Missourian reporting. Instead of one route each, the three buses all had to alternate between two.

If all positions are filled, each route will have its own bus, city spokesperson John Ogan said.

The hiring event will include on-the-spot interviews and job training for both full-time and temporary Go COMO bus driver positions, as well as full-time paratransit van drivers.

Professional bus drivers must have a valid commercial driver's license. Sokoff said Go COMO will provide individual training for those who need this license.

Go COMO offers free bus fares and can provide access to workplaces, retail locations, medical care and educational institutions.

"We've made some headway in the last year, but some people have left, so we are just trying to step up to our needed number," Sokoff said.

The transit job fair will occur at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. Tenth Street.