Greater Idaho Falls Transit reports record months, outlines expansion and data-driven planning

Greater Idaho Falls Transit (GIFT) staff briefed the City Council on microtransit operations, ridership data and possible near-term service changes, saying recent months set new records and the service is exploring measured expansion.

Keith Marcus, the transit coordinator, said microtransit is intended to meet demand where riders need it and described the system as door-to-door on smaller vehicles. "About a 101,000 is my goal for the end of the year," Marcus said when asked for the year-end target. Staff reported multiple record months (JulythroughOctober), single-month peaks near 10,000 passenger rides, and a lifetime ride total in the hundreds of thousands; staff cited about 330,000 rides since inception.

The presentation included a short video of riders and social-service partners. A rider in the video described the system as affordable and accessible; the video quoted fares in the range of $2 to $7. Staff said sponsorships and vehicle wraps help subsidize fares and keep costs low, and they showed a community-branded wrap developed with Idaho Falls Parks & Rec.

GIFT operates under a mixed ownership model: some vehicles are owned by the city and others are provided and maintained by the contractor. Staff said that contractor maintenance covers contractor-provided vehicles and that the city-owned units sometimes receive shop support from the municipal maintenance shop. Fueling logistics and equity across vehicles were raised as an operational issue; staff said they are seeking solutions to allow centralized fueling and expect several new vehicles purchased with carbon-reduction funds to arrive in April 2026.

Presenters described data tools (a GIS dashboard) that show demand patterns by half-mile hexagons; scheduled rides represent about 25% of demand and many scheduled rides are booked same-day. Staff said the three top trip purposes are medical appointments, shopping and work; staff also highlighted family-token fare use and a 4.9-star average rating on user feedback.

Councilors and staff discussed expansion constraints: while GIFT can provide on-demand shuttles and event support, crossing county lines or adding fixed routes raises legal, operational and funding questions. Staff said the service will continue to prioritize data-driven, incremental choices and invited event planners to contact GIFT for shuttle options.

Next steps: staff will continue to refine service standards, pursue additional sponsorships and integrate new vehicles and analytics into planning for 2026.