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House committee hears pleas for transit aid as Senate bill 22-54 seeks funding and a study for urban fixed-route services
Summary
Transit directors from Fargo, Minot and Grand Forks described rising costs, fleet shortages and funding volatility as they urged support for Senate Bill 22-54, a proposal that would create a grant program for four urban transit systems and fund a study of the state transit funding formula.
Senate Bill 22-54, which would appropriate money for fixed-route city transit and paratransit services in Minot, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo and require a legislative study of the transit funding formula, drew extensive testimony from transit officials and advocacy groups at the House Transportation hearing.
State Senator Josh Borshais introduced the bill and described the two-part proposal: a temporary grant program for the four urban systems and a study during the next interim to determine whether North Dakota’s transit funding formula should be updated. "The current funding formula through DOT only considers riders that are disabled or above an age that designates them as seniors. It does not take in into consideration general ridership," he told the committee.
Transit directors testified that their operating costs and replacement-vehicle prices have climbed dramatically, that federal and pandemic-era funding that once helped mask shortfalls is no longer available, and that classification changes tied to population…
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