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Centre County approves $2 per‑trip shared‑ride rate increase for FY25‑26 to cover rising costs
Summary
The board approved a $2 per‑trip rate increase for the county’s shared‑ride transit service for fiscal year 2025–26 after staff said the change will generate about $150,000 in additional revenue and follows state approval; commissioners emphasized continued reliance on state and Medicaid funding for many trips.
Centre County commissioners approved a $2 per‑trip increase for the county’s shared‑ride program for fiscal year 2025–26, a change staff said will generate roughly $150,000 in additional revenue based on current trip volumes.
David (shared‑ride program staff) told commissioners the county requested and received PennDOT approval before asking the board to adopt the rate increase. "We asked for a $2 per trip, that equals, approximately a $150,000 in additional revenue based on trip numbers for the current fiscal year," he said, and added the funding will help close an operating shortfall as state backfill funding declines.
Staff and commissioners noted the program performs more than 75,000 trips annually in Centre County, that many trips are funded through medical assistance or PennDOT senior/disability programs, and that the county currently offers expanded senior eligibility (age 60–64) compared with many other counties. Commissioners thanked the program for serving long‑distance medical trips — including periodic trips to Danville and Geisinger — and discussed combining routes to improve efficiency.
On eligibility, David said the program serves all ages and multiple funding tiers: "Anybody can ride. Absolutely. Yes," he said, adding that medical assistance and PennDOT funding cover large shares of rider costs and that most trips (about 98 percent) are funded in some way.
A motion to approve the shared‑ride rate increase for fiscal year 2025–26 was moved and seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. Staff said the increase takes effect July 1 and will be implemented within the county’s billing and scheduling systems.
Discussion versus decision: the board approved the rate change at this meeting; staff will implement the new rate for the upcoming fiscal year and adjust billing and eligibility procedures as needed.
