For passengers of the MOD On-Demand shared ride service there are new options to pay for fare.  Debit and credit cards will be accepted starting Monday. March 27, 2023, either on the MOD Topeka mobile app or via the MOD website at www.modtopeka.app. The fare is still $2.00, so if a passenger wishes to ride and doesn't use a card, exact cash fare is required. The bus operators do not carry change and our fareboxes cannot make change.  Please share with anyone you know who is interested in riding the MOD service in southeast Topeka! 

Saturday, March 18, 2023, The annual St. Patrick's Day parade will take place in downtown Topeka beginning at 12 p.m.  

The following are a list of Topeka Metro's detours due to the parade route:

Blue #1 – Oakland

Outbound:  Not affected – use existing detour.

Inbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Rust #2 – North Kansas

Outbound:  Regular route to 8th and Quincy, East on 8th to Madison, North on Madison to 1st, West on 1st to Kansas, back on regular route.

Inbound:  Regular route to 1st and Kansas, East on 1st to Quincy, South on Quincy to 3rd, East on 3rd to Monroe, South on Monroe to 6th, back on regular route.

Orange #3 – East 6th

Outbound:  Not affected – use existing detour.

Inbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Yellow #4 - California

Outbound:  Not affected – use existing detour.

Inbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Light Blue #5 - Indiana

Outbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Inbound:  Regular route to 12th and Kansas, East on 12th to Quincy, North on Quincy to 10th, back on regular route.

Navy #6 – West 6th

Outbound:  Regular route to 8th and Quincy, East on 8th to Madison, North on Madison to 1st, West on 1st to Topeka Blvd., South on Topeka Blvd to 6th, back on regular route.      

Inbound:  Regular route to 6th and Topeka Blvd., North on Topeka Blvd. to 1st, East on 1st to Quincy, South on Quincy to 3rd, East on 3rd to Monroe, South on Monroe to 6th, back on regular route.

Pink #7 - Washburn

Outbound:  Regular route to 9th and Quincy, South on Quincy to 12th, West on 12th to Topeka Blvd., North on Topeka Blvd to 8th, West on 8th Street, back on regular route.  

Inbound:  Regular route to 8th & Topeka Blvd., South on Topeka Blvd. to 12th Street, East on 12th Street to Quincy, North on Quincy to 8th, back on regular route.

Tan #10 – West 10th

Outbound:  Regular route to 10th Street & Monroe.  Continue South on Monroe to 12th Street, West on 12th Street to Topeka Blvd., North on Topeka Blvd. to 10th Street, West on 10th Street, back on regular route.

Inbound:  Regular route to 10th Street & Topeka Blvd.  South on Topeka Blvd. to 12th Street, East on 12th Street to Quincy, North on Quincy to 9th Street, East on 9th Street to QSS. 

Purple #12 - Huntoon

Outbound:  Not affected – use existing detour.

Inbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Teal #17 – West 17th

Outbound:  Regular route to 9th and Quincy, South on Quincy to 12th, West on 12th to Topeka Blvd., South on Topeka Blvd., back on regular route. 

Inbound:  Regular route to 12th and Topeka Blvd., East on 12th, North on Quincy to 8th, back on regular route.

Green #21 – West 21st

Outbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Inbound:  Regular route to 12th and Kansas, East on 12th to Quincy, North on Quincy to 10th, back on regular route.

Red #29 – West 29th

Outbound:  Not affected – regular route.

Inbound:  Not affected – regular route.

The Irish Club of Topeka has the parade route on their website here.  

TOPEKA, KANSAS (February 6, 2023) -- On Saturday, February 4, 2023, Topeka Metro employees and the Amalgamated Transit Union #1360 (ATU) members were on site at Dillons Fairlawn to gather non-perishable food items and monetary donations to benefit Project Topeka - a Community Food Drive. 

Stuff the Bus was held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the entryway of Dillons. A total of 2,500 lbs. of food filled the bus, and $400 in donations were collected. In the last seven years, the most collected was 2,272 lbs, so we beat our record from 2020!

Stuff the Bus has been in existence since 1986, between the ATU and Topeka Metro. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had been cancelled in 2021 and 2022. We thank everyone who donated food items or money, all the volunteers, and those who helped spread the word. We are happy to help our community. All donations stay within Topeka.

TOPEKA, KANSAS (February 6, 2023) -- The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority launched an on-demand ride share service for the southeast part of Topeka on Monday, January 30, 2023. The more personalized transit service, named MOD (Metro On-Demand), allows customers to request curb-to-curb transportation within specific service areas. Passengers can access residential and commercial locations, or even connect with a fixed route bus for travel outside the defined zones. 

Hours of MOD operation are Monday through Friday from 5:35 a.m. to 6:40 p.m., and Saturday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. Fees for this shared ride program will be $2 for a one-way ride, cash only. Bus operators will not carry change. Bus passes, ride tickets, USD 501 and Washburn University/WU Tech passes/IDs cannot be used for this premium service.

To book a ride, Topeka Metro encourages customers to download the MOD Topeka app on a mobile phone. The app is available through the iOS Apple app store and on the Google Play app for Androids. Rides can also be scheduled on the MOD website at www.modtopeka.app. There is a Frequently Asked Questions section on the MOD Topeka website for further details. Another alternative to booking a ride is to call customer service at 785-783-7000 and push Option #5. 

TOPEKA, Kansas (January 23, 2023) -- Topeka Metro and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) #1360 are reaching out to the Topeka community to "Stuff the Bus" with non-perishable food items as well as cash donations to benefit Project Topeka, the community food drive to defeat hunger.

            When:  Saturday, February 4th, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

            Where: Entrance at Fairlawn Dillons/Parking Lot – 21st & Fairlawn, 5311 SW 22nd Place 

Topeka Metro and ATU members will be on site February 4th to accept donations and will load them on a Topeka Metro bus at the Fairlawn Plaza Dillons store. Shoppers are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to be distributed through Project Topeka. Cash donations are also welcome.  We all have been affected by the current economy; however, even one can or non-perishable item helps those in need! Click here for a copy of the Stuff the Bus flyer with info.

In the past, the Stuff the Bus project has collected nearly 2,500 pounds of food and we hope to top that goal for our community this year. Immediately after the event is over, ATU members will transport the food to be weighed and hand them any donations. As always, 100% of the food collected stays in Topeka and Shawnee County. We invite you to come help us STUFF THE BUS!

TOPEKA, KANSAS (January 12, 2023) -- The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority has created a new zone-based, on-demand shared ride service called MOD (Metro On-Demand). It will launch on Monday, January 30, 2023.

Passengers can access residential and commercial locations, or even connect with a fixed route bus for travel outside the defined zone. Hours of MOD operation will be Monday through Friday from 5:35 a.m. to 6:40 p.m., and Saturday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. Fees for this shared ride program will be $2.00 cash only for a one-way ride. Bus operators will not make change or carry cash. Children under age 5 ride free with paying adult.

In November, Topeka Metro hosted a series of public meetings explaining the MOD service and gathered input. Additional public meetings will take place where staff will be on hand to explain how to use the service. The meetings will be in southeast Topeka locations January 19-21, 2023.

“MOD is a new approach to public transit that is flexible, accommodating and cost-effective. The service will provide rides that are more personalized. Passengers will be able to book a ride using an app on their mobile phone or call our customer service,” said Topeka Metro General Manager Bob Nugent. 

A MOD Topeka mobile app and MOD website will be active by January 30 for information and booking rides. 

Click this link for the English public meeting notice and click this link for the Spanish public meeting notice. A flyer explaining the service can be found here.