Transit staff review ridership, cost-per-trip concerns; committee approves updated taxi policies

Transit staff briefed the committee on quarterly ridership, rising cost-per-trip metrics and ongoing work to refine the taxi contract and service model. The committee then approved updates to the transit policies and procedures.

Transit staff said they had pulled an earlier version of the packet inadvertently; the corrected report shows the second goal on track and updates to policy and procedures reflecting changes to service hours made earlier in the year. Staff said they are evaluating weekend service for the taxi, plan a request for proposals for next year’s taxi contract, and are analyzing trips-per-hour data to seek efficiencies.

Committee members raised concern about the year-over-year rise in cost per hour and cost per trip for the shared-ride taxi service. Staff said trips-per-hour and contract annual increases both affect cost per trip; staff are analyzing trip patterns to identify opportunities to group trips and reduce no-shows or cancellations.

Separately, the committee considered a written update to transit policies and procedures that clarifies the definition of an “agency fare” (an organization paying on behalf of a rider), documents the new hours of operation, and adds the cross-county memorandum of understanding allowing service into Ozaukee County. The committee chair noted that modifications to policies and procedures require committee approval; committee members voted to approve the updated policies and procedures unanimously.

No immediate service changes were adopted at the meeting beyond the policy clarification; staff said they will use the data analysis and the upcoming RFP process to develop contract-level changes for future years.