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City explains move toward microtransit; drivers, riders press for details on jobs and paratransit
Summary
City officials said federal funding changes and an unsustainable fixed-route contract prompted a procurement for a microtransit model. Transit drivers and riders raised concerns about job status, ADA/paratransit service, fares and communication; city staff said ADA paratransit will continue and the proposed vendor plans to keep fares consistent.
Residents and transit drivers pressed city officials for details after the commission disclosed it is negotiating a contract to move Springfield's fixed-route bus service toward a microtransit (on-demand) model.
At a work-session summary presented to the commission, staff said federal funding (FTA) provides roughly 80% of public transit dollars and that Transdev, the city's current operator, notified the city late last year it would invoke a contract clause exiting the agreement because the existing model was not financially sustainable. Staff said the city ran a request-for-proposal process in 2024 and received a small number of responses; a new provider is being recommended but no contract had been signed at the time of the meeting.
Drivers and riders raised repeated concerns during public comment. Multiple speakers who identified themselves as current or recent employees of the city's contractor described being "in limbo" about job status and asked whether the city would honor the protections of Section 13(c) (the federal labor-protection provision tied to transit funding). One speaker said crews had not been contacted and that passengers, particularly seniors and people using wheelchairs, had not been informed.
City staff said ADA paratransit (dial-a-ride) services "will continue to exist in the future" and that a Transportation Coordinating Committee will help maintain discounted rides for elderly and disabled riders. Staff also said the proposed vendor plans to offer an app for riders but will keep a phone-in option: "you will also still be able to call in to schedule your ride." The staff presentation said the vendor's proposal intends to preserve existing fare levels; staff said the company presented keeping fares at current rates when it showed vans during a work session.
City legal staff clarified the city's limited role: existing drivers are employees of the private operator, not city employees, and collective-bargaining matters must be handled by the employer and union. The law director told drivers it would be inappropriate and potentially illegal for the city to intervene directly in collective-bargaining discussions.
Staff committed to more outreach: they said a public meeting originally planned for July 1 was canceled while contract details were negotiated and that the city manager and procurement staff plan outreach visits to senior facilities and other riders. The commission asked staff to speed communication with drivers, riders and partner organizations.
No contract vote occurred at the meeting; staff said a contract recommendation will be brought to the commission for formal approval before a provider begins service.
