Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners hear constituent concerns after employer cuts subsidy for employee transit rides
Summary
Commissioners were told an employer cut supplemental transit payments for employees who used Haywood Public Transit, potentially affecting 20 riders; staff will invite Mountain Projects to Feb. meeting to clarify program details and alternatives.
Haywood County commissioners on Jan. 21 discussed constituent concerns after an employer reduced or ended a subsidy that helped employees use Haywood Public Transit, a change callers said could force some people to stop working.
Commissioners relayed calls from residents and a Mountain Projects staff member (identified in the meeting as "Patsy") reporting that as many as 20 transit riders who worked for the employer would face higher fares after the subsidy was cut. Commissioners described contradictory accounts about the current supplement, which callers variously described as $5, $3 or $30 per trip in different conversations.
Commissioner Amy asked county staff to invite Patsy from Mountain Projects to the board’s first meeting in February to provide details, and asked county administration to collect the exact dollar amounts and program mechanics. "Let's see. Chris, can you just have maybe we get Patsy here in first meeting in February, and we'll, find out what what exactly what the details are, and what the dollar amounts are," the chair said during constituent concerns.
Why it matters: changes to an employer’s subsidy for transit rides could reduce low-cost commuting options for workers who rely on Haywood Public Transit and could affect workforce participation at the employer named in comments.
What commissioners reported and requested: - Complaints received: several commissioners said they had received calls from employees and family members worried that the change would make commuting unaffordable and could force workers to quit. - Conflicting fare reports: callers gave differing accounts of how much riders currently pay and what the prior supplement had been — statements in the meeting were inconsistent about whether the per-trip supplement is now $3 or $5 and whether it had previously been $30. - Next steps: commissioners asked county staff to invite Mountain Projects (Patsy) to the Feb. 4 meeting (first meeting in February) and to provide a clear accounting of the current subsidy, who pays it, and whether any county funding or grant options (for example PACE funds) might be available.
The board did not take formal action on the item at the meeting; staff were asked to gather details and return with information.
