City and RTS staff briefed the General Policy Committee on Sept. 25 about a plan to insource the Regional Transit System’s ADA paratransit service currently run under contract with a third‑party vendor (referred to as MV during the meeting).

Staff said the vendor contract cost could rise to about $3.2 million while the city projects it can operate the paratransit service in‑house for roughly $2.7 million. Staff quoted an MV disclosure that indicated a profit margin on some services (staff cited a figure of about $800,000) and emphasized that the city already owns 17 paratransit vans that MV currently uses in the contract. RTS staff said those city vans would return to RTS use if the service is insourced.

RTS described operational elements of the plan: paratransit covers trips originating and ending within three‑quarters of a mile of fixed routes (by federal requirement), reservations are generally made in advance, and the city will use VIA routing software already employed for other mobility services. RTS said it has a FDOT‑approved training program ready and will prioritize hiring existing fixed‑route drivers interested in paratransit operator roles. Staff estimated an initial go‑live late in the calendar year but kept March 2026 as a conservative target to ensure a smooth transition.

Staff warned that assuming broader coordination responsibilities for the county’s CTC/TD (transportation‑disadvantaged) work is a separate and more complex issue. RTS staff said they expect additional staffing and contractual steps before taking on full CTC duties countywide and that MTPO and county conversations remain underway.

Committee members asked about customer outreach and training; RTS staff said they plan targeted communications, work with the Center for Independent Living to help riders, and distribute outreach materials to current paratransit users. No formal action was taken; the item was presented for information and continued coordination with the county and MTPO.

Ending: Staff will continue recruitment, training, VIA‑software implementation and coordination with county partners; commissioners asked for continued updates to ensure continuity of service for riders.