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County staff: paratransit ridership up about 30–35% after fare-free policy; rider counts and in-house CDL training coming
Summary
Staff reported that fare-free service has boosted paratransit rides roughly 30–35 percent and said the department will begin route-by-route, stop-by-stop rider counts and has hired an in-house CDL trainer to build capacity.
In the committee's staff report, a county staff member said the department's fare-free pilot has had a stronger effect on paratransit ridership than on fixed-route service, and outlined steps to improve scheduling and training.
Allison Swint, the staff member presenting operations updates, said fixed-route ridership has not increased as much as expected, while paratransit ridership has increased roughly 30 to 35 percent since fares were waived. "The fare free is going well. Our ridership has not increased on the fixed route as much as we had anticipated. However, on the paratransit side, it ... has gone up 35, 30 to 35%," Swint said.
Staff told the committee they will begin formal rider counts on Friday, using GIS location data to identify high- and low-use stops and to inform adjustments to the fixed-route network. Swint described a program developed with the county IT department that will use cellular and GIS mapping so drivers can mark stops; the counts are intended to improve route efficiency and reduce over- or under-served stops.
Swint also said the department recently hired a new trainer to provide in-house CDL training and that the agency is developing a more in-depth training program for both paratransit and fixed-route operators to help recruit and groom local candidates into transportation roles.
Staff told the committee they are working with county attorneys and grant/account administrators on the parent transit application's instruction updates and expect to have additional information by the end of the month. No formal action was taken on these items during the meeting.
