Encinitas commissioners press for clearer cost data after microtransit workshop

Several members of the Encinitas Senior Citizen Commission told staff on May 19 they were unconvinced the city’s microtransit workshop provided sufficient cost information for policymakers to weigh options for senior transportation.

Commissioner Kaden described the workshop as “a solution in search of a problem” and said presenters did not disclose firm trip-cost projections. An audience member reported hearing an anecdotal figure of more than $60 per trip in another jurisdiction; an engineering presenter at the workshop later offered a different framing, estimating a per-resident subsidy of roughly $0.10–$0.50 per day, which Commissioner Kaden translated to an annual subsidy range of about $2.3 million to $11.5 million for a city population of roughly 63,000.

Commissioners pressed staff for clarity on who benefits and what microtransit would cost the city, noting that ridership, geographic routing and subsidy assumptions substantially affect per-trip estimates. Commissioner Ling emphasized concerns about safe transportation for seniors and people with disabilities and asked staff to identify options targeted to that group.

Manager Goodsell and staff described the workshop as information-gathering and noted an online survey tied to the project would close on May 26; commissioners encouraged the city to provide clear cost models alongside outreach to ensure public input is informed.

The commission recommended that further discussion take place at the transportation ad hoc level to allow for deeper technical review and to ensure that any proposals consider senior-specific needs and potential funding sources.

No decisions on microtransit policy or funding were made at the May 19 meeting; commissioners asked staff for follow-up analysis and for the engineering team to present detailed cost assumptions to the ad hoc committee.