Washington County transit manager briefs committee on ridership and issues new RFP for five-year contract

Charles Goughton, Washington County transit manager, told the committee July 17 that ridership metrics appear to have stabilized and that the county has released a new request for proposals for transit operations. Goughton said the packet included 2024 and 2025 ridership reports requested by the committee; committee members asked clarifying questions about which files were shown. Goughton confirmed the county released an RFP on July 10 for the next five-year contract period, structured as a two-year base with three optional one-year renewals. Goughton said the transit program was recently reclassified and that the state will be the subrecipient overseeing procurement and approving awards; he told the committee the RFP uses the new state procurement template and that the state will review procurements before award. The RFP, he said, does not propose any service or fare changes; staff reminded the committee that changes beyond certain thresholds require public hearings. The committee discussed timing and budget implications, noting the committee-level authority for small adjustments and the requirement for public hearings for more substantial fare or service changes. No motion was taken; staff said they will continue to work through the procurement and budget process and expect to discuss details during August budget talks. The committee received the reports as information.