The Tompkins County Facilities and Infrastructure Committee on July 17 approved three resolutions that split the county’s 2025 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307 urban formula allocation among Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), Gadabout and county mobility projects.
Committee members said the 2025 allocation totals about $4.6 million. TCAT will receive about $3.2 million and intends to use its share for operating expenses; Gadabout will receive about $700,000 for operating; and Tompkins County will receive about $725,000, allocated primarily to project administration (roughly $287,000), mobility-management contracts ($400,000) and $37,000 for the county’s Transportation Scout app. Staff said the operating shares are structured as a 50/50 match of federal operating funds with state transit operating assistance; the county’s mobility project funds are categorized as capital for federal match purposes and are split approximately 80% federal / 10% state / 10% local.
County transportation staff also briefed the committee on progress implementing the county’s Mobility Vision Plan. Two contracted mobility-management programs are active: the 1-Call 1-Click center run by Human Services Coalition (HSC), which fields calls, schedules trips and connects clients with volunteer drivers, and Go Ithaca, which provides outreach, travel training and transportation benefits. Staff reported that in the first six months of 2025 the 1-Call 1-Click center received 904 transportation calls, volunteer drivers provided 160 medical trips, and HSC distributed 242 bus passes. Go Ithaca reported 371 new members this year (208 low-income ‘‘easy access’’ members) and roughly 900 easy access members in total across its programs.
Staff described a new funding pathway: an enhanced service under the Medicaid 1115 waiver (Care Compass Network) that can now pay transportation providers—taxicabs, demand-response, fixed route and other modes—for trips that support social determinants of health (job searches, food access, appointments). Staff said the system screens clients via 211/HSC navigators and then posts trips to a shared platform; once a provider accepts and completes a trip, the platform bills Care Compass directly, removing the need for clients to pay first and be reimbursed.
Staff also described the Transportation Scout trip-planning app and website, which launched April 17. The app combines fixed-route trip planning with local resources (Gadabout, volunteer driver services, bike share, carpool matching and an emergency-ride-home benefit) and has recorded about 2,500–2,900 trips since launch and roughly seven parking spaces saved per weekday on average. Staff said they have applied for First Mile/Last Mile and Rides to Recovery grant rounds (requested amounts $125,000 each) and are awaiting awards.
Discussion: Committee members asked about long-term funding stability for Medicaid-funded transport benefits, insurance/liability for carpool drivers, and performance metrics. Staff said the 1115 waiver funding has been distributed to providers so far but that future state budget changes create uncertainty; staff said internal performance metrics and FTA reporting are in place and that organizations provide quarterly performance reports. On insurance for carpooling, staff said the county is not providing blanket insurance and agreed to research whether commercial insurance products could reduce driver liability concerns.
Ending: The committee approved the three 5307 resolutions on voice votes. Staff said they will continue to pursue grants, expand the provider network and return with performance reporting.