Transit was a sustained topic at the retreat. Staff framed a 10‑year planning anchor of $63,400,000 as a local‑match planning number to restore systemwide 30‑minute service, reintroduce Sunday service and incorporate electric buses; staff noted that the actual cost would be much higher but depends on state and federal funding availability.
Councilors and staff debated two primary trade‑offs: whether to spend scarce local funds on frequency and reliability improvements that can increase ridership in the near term using existing (diesel/natural gas) vehicles, or to invest now in battery‑electric or hydrogen buses and supporting charging or fueling infrastructure that carry high up‑front costs and greater risk if federal support declines. One staff member summarized the tension: ‘‘If we can’t do that all at once, how can we find lower‑cost ways of making the system more [reliable]?’’
Participants recommended testing and pilots to measure ridership response, prioritizing routes or corridors for faster service, and pursuing regional governance and funding discussions with neighboring counties and the General Assembly rather than waiting for full regional buy‑in. The formation and funding model for CARTA and the regional transit governance structure were discussed as necessary pieces for a broader system, and several participants urged the city to lead while inviting other localities to join. No formal decision was made; staff were asked to return with pilot plans, funding options and clearer analysis of lifecycle costs for alternative fuel buses versus service frequency improvements.