Transit agency reports improved ridership, stable fuel costs and plans in-bus displays and Wi-Fi

Summary

Officials told the advisory meeting that year-to-date finances are roughly on track, fuel expenses are down from prior years, community-route June ridership was the best on record, and the agency plans to install Yodeck displays using Pepwave GPS/Wi-Fi units; rural service first rider was delayed to July 22.

Transit staff presented a midyear financial and operational update at the July 9 Transit Advisory meeting, saying budgets are generally on track, community-route ridership is strong and several in-bus technology upgrades will be deployed. "We've got everything business as usual," a transit staff member said, summarizing the midyear position.

The presenter said the agency is a little over six months into the 2025 budget cycle with "about 47% left," citing one-off upfront costs for Pepwave GPS/Wi-Fi routers and a past backpayment for CB radio service that increased near-term spending. The router purchase included a one-year upfront payment for Wi-Fi and GPS telemetry that staff said drove much of the extra cost.

Staff described specific cost lines: annual service-contract spending was described in the transcript as between…

Transit agency reports improved ridership, stable fuel costs and plans in-bus displays and Wi-Fi

Summary

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