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Linn County transit director reports ridership gains, warns of federal funding review
Summary
Carter Baldwin, Linn County’s director of LIFTS, told the Board of Supervisors the service met short-term new-rider goals and improved on-time performance but is monitoring a federal funding review and potential Medicaid changes that could affect transit users.
Carter Baldwin, director of LIFTS, told the Linn County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 that rural transit ridership met short-term targets and that staff are closely watching possible federal and Medicaid funding changes that could affect service.
Baldwin said the transit program set a goal of ‘‘12 new riders per month in the rural areas’’ and reported 14 new riders across several towns during the October–December quarter: three from Centerpoint, four from Lisbon, four from Mount Vernon and others, for a total of 14 new riders. He also said the service is targeting an on-time performance standard of 95 percent and reported quarterly averages ‘‘about 90–91 percent.’’
The update included outreach and compliance work. Baldwin listed four outreach events held between October and December: a panel for resources for older adults, a Metropolitan Planning Organization presentation, the Marion High School transition fair and a League of Women Voters transportation panel. He said the LIFTS website has been updated to clarify ADA statements, reasonable accommodations and Title VI language ahead of a triennial review, and that staff are finalizing a drug- and alcohol-testing policy with risk management.
On federal funding, Baldwin said Linn County receives money through the City of Cedar Rapids and through East Central Council of Governments (ECCOG). He cautioned that one source — the ECCOG formula funds for rural transit — had not yet been allocated at the time of his report, and that a state director and an FTA regional office were reviewing funding priorities. ‘‘Our federal funding that we receive through our contracts through ECCOG and through City of Cedar Rapids is distributed through the state DOT… the FTA passes down funds to the state of Iowa to distribute to the transit agencies,’’ he said.
Board members pressed Baldwin about possible ripple effects if federal or Medicaid dollars were reduced. One supervisor asked him to track reports that could affect customers who rely on partner services such as Options and Arc of East Central Iowa. Baldwin said Medicaid transportation is brokered at the state level and that any changes would likely show up at that level; he pledged to update the board as more information becomes available.
Baldwin emphasized outreach and customer-satisfaction work as immediate priorities, noting the outreach events and the updated website language. He closed by asking whether the board had questions; none were offered that changed the department’s immediate plans.
The board approved its Feb. 10 minutes at the start of the meeting; no other LIFTS actions were taken that day.
