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Santa Fe transit rebate program (Resolution 2013-60) revived for update and outreach
Summary
City transit staff and Chainbreakers urged the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to modernize a 2013 bus-pass rebate tied to bicycle vendors and to restore local funding after federal COVID-era support lapsed.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee discussed modernizing City of Santa Fe Resolution 2013-60, a bus-pass rebate program that links bicycle vendors and volunteer work to discounted or free annual transit passes. Interim Santa Fe Trails director Andrew Baca told the committee he wants to “reincorporate” the program into current transit services and reintroduce it to the public now that one-time federal and pass-through funds have ended.
Tomas Rivera, founder of Chainbreakers Collective, described the program’s original mechanics: participants either spend a threshold amount at participating bicycle vendors or contribute time at a vendor or nonprofit, which then qualified them for an annual pass that saved “around $200 to $250.” Rivera said the program’s funds were allocated in the past but need updated parameters to broaden access.
Rivera described Chainbreakers as a 20-year-old, membership-led economic and environmental justice nonprofit that operates a bicycle resource center and has distributed roughly 10,000 bikes over two decades. “A bicycle plus a bus pass is how so many of our members get around,” he said, adding that the rebate historically enabled people to keep jobs and attend school by covering transit costs.
Baca told the committee the original resolution referenced an annual $50,000 general-fund allocation; the city has not recently drawn on that amount because the program relied on ARPA and other temporary funding sources. He said the rebate is not in the current proposed FY26 public-works budget. Asked how much would be needed to restart the program at a modest level, Baca recommended roughly $27,250 for a first year of renewed operation, based on pre-COVID usage.
Committee members pressed on publicity and enrollment. Rivera and Baca said outreach has included vendor networks, Chainbreakers’ membership base and flyers on buses, but both urged broader, more transparent promotion. Rivera said Chainbreakers tracks its own participation numbers; Baca said transit retains pass-enrollment records. Pre-COVID participation peaked at about 45 enrollments in a year; during the pandemic that figure dropped to as few as 10–11; last year enrollment was about 11.
No formal funding action was taken at the meeting. Committee members recommended that staff continue updating the program’s rules, explore public outreach channels, coordinate with the Transit Advisory Board and consider the requested $27,250 as a baseline for one year. Baca said staff will continue offline discussions with committee members and the transit advisory board to modernize the resolution and consider a budget amendment for the next fiscal cycle.
