Winchester council tables proposed transit fare increases; members seek more data on youth rides

The Winchester City Council voted to table a proposed set of fare increases for Winchester Transit after a lengthy discussion that included staff presentations, public comments and council questions about youth ridership and equity.

Perry Eisenach and Kenny Johnson, the transit operations manager, presented the proposal. The package presented to council would have increased the loop route fare from $1.00 to $1.50, raised the Laurel Ridge route from $2.00 to $3.00 and increased the WhenReady service from $1.50 to $2.00. Finance committee recommended the increases with an implementation date of July 1, 2026; council emphasized the proposed date would give riders and staff time to adapt.

Staff said the city needs flexibility because the FY26 budget could see a shortfall tied to service changes earlier this year. Eisenach told council the proposal followed a 30-day public comment period and that a majority of written comments opposed any fare increases.

Councilors pressed staff for more data about youth free rides. Johnson provided July and August counts for free rides for users under 17: 1,929 free youth rides in July and 1,765 in August. For a typical month the system handles roughly 7,000 rides, staff said; a two-week August snapshot showed about 25% of under-17 trips went to John Handley High School and about 7% to Daniel Morgan School. Staff also said the program’s policy allows unaccompanied riders aged 12–17 to use service without an adult under existing rules.

Public comments earlier in the meeting touched on transit pricing and youth access. Arthur Christiano, a resident, urged the council to end free rides for riders under 17, saying the practice delayed other riders. Kara, a Ward 4 resident and transit user who participated in a prior advisory committee, urged council to delay increases and continue improving the system before increasing fares.

Councilors discussed possible alternative approaches: charging a weekend nominal fee, adding account-based rules for no-shows, or configuring the ride-booking app so children’s rides do not automatically increase an adult fare. Staff said these technical changes are possible but would require additional time and potentially another 30-day public notice if policy language changes.

Councilor Herbstree moved to table the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried. A straw poll during the discussion showed a majority of council members were open to returning with a proposal that would include a fee for riders aged 12–17, but the council did not adopt any new fares tonight. The proposed increases, as presented, would not take effect before July 1, 2026, if council votes to adopt them at a later date.