The Iowa Department of Transportation now has one person to oversee public transportation in the state. Peggi Knight took over a couple of weeks ago as the director of the new D-O-T Office of Public Transit. Knight sees herself as a liaison for public transit. She says the transit duties had been split between different divisions and transit agencies said they found it difficult.Knight says the number of public bus routes has decreased in Iowa in recent years, and that’s one area she’ll examine.Unlike other more populous states, Iowa’s transit system is used quite heavily in rural areas.Some type of public rail service has been suggested for use in Des Moines to handle commuters when the freeway undergoes reconstruction. Knight says rail service is something that thus far hasn’t shown to be the best option for Iowa.Knight’s office will manage the distribution of 20-million dollars in state and federal transit funds.
