Board asks staff to issue RFI and study trolley expansion, warns of ADA/paratransit obligations

The Woodlands Township Board on May 13 instructed staff to issue a request for information to learn whether private operators could provide charter services comparable to the township's federally funded trolley program and asked for a briefing on options for expanding routes to serve Grogan's Mill Village Center.

Ruth Ann (transit staff) and other staff described two separate paths: (1) use federally funded trolleys under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rules, which requires an RFI to check for private competition and would impose federal reporting, or (2) purchase or localize trolley assets and operate services with local funds, which would remove federal restrictions but require capital outlay.

Staff warned that expanding the route into Grogan's Mill Village Center would expand the three-quarter-mile ADA paratransit eligibility zone and create a federal obligation to provide demand-response service to eligible riders within that expanded area. That obligation could require additional vehicles, staff time or contracted services; staff said the board already budgeted for a paratransit-capable van and that new vehicle deliveries and procurement timing (new trolleys expected in late 2025) affect near-term options.

Directors discussed operational trade-offs, equity concerns about serving one senior living facility but not others, and fleet decisions (purchasing existing older trolleys versus waiting for new vehicles). The board asked staff to return a trolley briefing, proceed with the RFI and present cost and schedule implications for any expansion as part of budget discussions.