Residents press council on Dial-a-Ride gaps; council delays electric-bus purchase and forms transit task force

Public commenters and councilors took up accessible transit on Jan. 27, pressing staff on Dial-a-Ride service limits and routes that leave residents outside federally defined service footprints.

Mike Graddy described difficulty getting his 91-year-old mother to a bus stop and said she lives outside the premium service area: "There's no bus stop there... Mom can't walk 5 feet." Transit staff explained federal funding and service-footprint limits require adherence to set premium-service boundaries; staff said serving addresses outside that area would jeopardize federal compliance unless the premium service footprint is changed.

Councilors discussed microtransit, premium-service expansion and buying smaller buses; one councilor suggested partnering with rideshare models or creating an in-house microtransit pilot. The council asked staff to convene a task force to study options and directed staff to talk with federal legislators about rules that limit local flexibility.

Separately, council debated a $4,102,235 purchase of three electric buses (80% FTA-funded, 20% local). After questions about vendor selection, refurbishing buses out of state, charger infrastructure costs, and timeline, the council voted to delay the purchase until Feb. 10 to allow staff to provide requested answers and data. The council also approved a brief extension of a comprehensive generator-services contract through April 30, 2026.

Mayor asked staff to collect questions and present answers at the Feb. 10 meeting; the council agreed to convene a transit task force with council and staff participation.