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Oshkosh committee backs reduced paratransit hours, recommends April 1 start
Summary
The Transportation Committee voted to recommend revised paratransit service hours — Monday–Saturday 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m.–3 p.m. — and asked city staff to send the item to the Common Council as a resolution with a proposed April 1 start date.
The Oshkosh City Transportation Committee voted to recommend revised hours for the city’s paratransit service, moving service to Monday–Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Committee members approved the recommendation in a roll-call vote after staff presented data and stakeholder feedback.
The change, presented during the committee’s regular meeting, was described by staff as a compromise intended to improve reliability and vendor interest while preserving most rider needs. "If we follow this up, we risk, jeopardizing our eligibility for for federal funds, and that's a huge portion of our budget," a staff member said, describing federal reporting requirements tied to accurate operations data.
Committee members heard staff and consultants summarize outreach and usage data. Staff said overnight usage (10 p.m.–6 a.m.) averaged about 4.4 ADA ambulatory rides a night in December and that vendors have told the city 24/7 paratransit requirements make bidding unattractive. Staff and stakeholders said reducing overnight coverage would lower vendors' fixed staffing costs and could attract more competitive bids and better service quality.
Staff described consultations with the Winnebago County ADRC and a stakeholder focus group; staff said about 85% of individuals who expressed concern in an earlier meeting attended and expressed support for the revised hours. Staff also said the city intends to keep the existing Access to Jobs fare of $24.07 unchanged.
The committee approved the motion to recommend the revised service hours. The recommendation will go to the Common Council as a resolution rather than an ordinance; staff said, if the council agrees, the city would target an April 1 effective date to give riders and partners time to adjust. Staff also said they will monitor service and vendor responses and report back as needed.
Committee discussion noted service equity concerns (alignment with fixed-route schedules), uncertainty about long-term fiscal sustainability, and the role of federal and state grant levels in future service decisions. Members said the change is a short-term compromise intended to improve service reliability and vendor participation while allowing the city to reassess later.
Votes at the Transportation Committee meeting were recorded by roll call; committee members present voted to approve the recommendation.
