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New Braunfels Transit District posts RFP, plans fall 2025 pilot and regional connectivity study through 2026
Summary
Transit coordinator Julie Sitton said the district will release an RFP the day after the April 14 meeting, aims to award a contract this summer pending FTA pre-award authority, and targets a pilot rollout in fall 2025; a regional transit connectivity study is slated to finish in June 2026.
Julie Sitton, transit coordinator for the New Braunfels Transit District, briefed the council April 14 on near-term procurement and planning milestones for the city’s new transit program.
Key points: Sitton said the district will post a request for proposals (RFP) the day after the meeting and hopes to award a contract in summer 2025, contingent on receiving pre-award authority from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which staff expect by May or June. The district’s target for a pilot or initial service rollout is fall 2025; Sitton said an initial test pilot with current Alamo Regional Transit (ART) riders is a possible early step.
Regional study and partnerships: The council heard that a transit connectivity planning study, begun in January 2025 and led by AECOM, ATG and PCI, will assess current services and opportunities to improve connections between New Braunfels and nearby communities such as San Antonio, San Marcos, Seguin and Austin. Sitton said the study’s anticipated completion date is June 2026.
Funding, staffing and documents: Sitton said she continues biweekly coordination with FTA and with TxDOT on grant documents, is working with finance staff on the transit budget and a possible reclassification of her position, and is considering hiring an additional staffer. She also said the district produced a transit annual plan and mission/vision materials after attending the Texas Transit Leadership Institute. The RFP language was prepared with the transit consultant ATG and with finance staff; staff expect ongoing coordination during the summer.
Why it matters: The RFP and pre-award authority are prerequisites to awarding a service contract using federal formula funds. The connectivity study will guide future regional service decisions and is intended to inform whether the city continues microtransit or later adds fixed routes.
Council questions and finance note: Council members asked whether federal budget cuts could affect formula funding; Sitton responded that the district’s funding is formula-based and that she was confident the anticipated funds were not being cut at that time. She also said using the service for special events would have separate FTA rules and could require local funding.
Ending: Sitton asked the council to view the coming RFP and offered continued updates as the district moves toward award and pilot operations.
