Transit official tells Marion County council ridership surged to about 525,000 trips a year; asks for greater local match and new buses

The county's transit presenter told Marion County Council that ridership has grown significantly and that the system now supports hundreds of thousands of trips annually, arguing the agency needs more local funding to sustain and expand service.

The presenter said the transit network now operates "over 28 routes" serving workers, patients and residents without vehicle access, and cited roughly 525,000 trips a year across the service area. Officials said 77% of riders do not have access to a vehicle, 59% of trips are travel to work and 22% are healthcare‑related, which the presenter used to argue for later hours and more routes.

On capital needs, the presenter said the federal share of bus purchases is high (commonly cited as covering most of vehicle cost) but that local matching funds are required; the presenter noted the county will receive six new buses in the coming months and asked the council to explore local funding mechanisms and partnerships to meet required matches. Examples of local supports included employer contributions and private donations to bridge shortfalls.

The presenter also described a transit study underway and urged county and city leaders to consider long‑term dedicated funding models (for example, transportation taxes or registration fees) that other regional authorities use to sustain service.

Council members and staff discussed next steps for capital planning and timing for a referendum cycle and commission appointments elsewhere in the meeting. The transit presentation concluded with a request for follow‑up and more detailed cost estimates to inform county budgeting.