Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Bend approves 2026 shared-ride taxi contract amid rising local costs
Summary
City council approved the shared-ride taxi service agreement and related lease for 2026 after staff warned of a substantial increase in the local tax-levy share — estimated at about $362,000 for 2026 — driven by lower ridership and reduced one-time pandemic-era funding.
WEST BEND, Wis. — The Common Council on Sept. 22 approved the city’s 2026 shared-ride taxi services and vehicle lease agreements after staff told council the program’s local tax-levy share could rise sharply next year.
Doug (city transit staff) summarized the service and the recent RFP process and told the council the city expects the program’s local share for 2026 to be roughly $362,000. "So based on our calculation for the 2026 taxi service, we expect a local share or levy costs to be around $362,000," Doug said during his presentation. He told the council the shared-ride service operates about 37,000 service hours annually, with 14 vehicles (seven ADA-compliant), and an annual operating cost near $1.5 million; about 53% of operating costs are currently covered by grant funding.
Doug explained the city's five-year agreement with the current provider, Go Rightway, expires at the end of this year and staff ran an FTA-compliant RFP. Three proposals were received. After scoring technical proposals, staff opened cost proposals and recommended awarding the contract to Running Incorporated; the staff packet shows Running Inc.'s hourly cost would increase the city’s per-hour cost from about $35.15 to $39.73. "Our estimated local cost for 2026 is again... about $362,000," Doug said.
Council members asked about drivers, competing services and alternatives. When asked whether the new provider would retain existing drivers, Doug said he understood Go Rightway planned to retain their employees for other operations but declined to make employment commitments for a private company. Doug also described limits on duplicative service with county providers: county-operated vehicles use different funding rules and, under FTA regulations, cannot duplicate service within the city's service area.
Several council members noted the shift in funding sources after pandemic-era and other one-time funds were exhausted. Doug and council members said ridership trends (which dropped during the COVID pandemic and have not fully recovered) and decreased supplemental funding are the main drivers of the rising local share. "Ridership trends historically have gone down," Doug said.
The council moved to approve two linked agenda items — the service award and the lease agreement — in a combined motion and voted to carry the action. The motion was seconded and the chair called the motion carried after members signaled "aye." Staff emphasized the five-year agreement is structured as an annually renewed agreement and the council retains policy options: the contract includes a 60‑day out clause and the city can reissue an RFP in future years if needed.
Why it matters: The shared-ride taxi program provides curb-to-curb service to thousands of trips annually and serves residents who rely on accessible transportation. The council’s approval secures short-term continuity of service but also starts a budget-year conversation about how to fund an increasing local share while exploring alternatives or shared-service options with the county.
