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Pass Tran asks county for $36,135 match and two replacement vans to reduce denied rides
Summary
Pass Tran, Pender County's public transportation program, told commissioners it provided 22,590 rides in fiscal year 2025 and is asking the county for local matches to two Federal Transit Administration grants plus funding for vehicle replacements and fleet expansion to reduce thousands of denied ride requests.
Pass Tran, the Pender County public transportation program managed through Pender Adult Services, requested county support at a public hearing for local matches tied to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and to replace aging vehicles.
At a Sept. 2 public hearing, Pass Tran director Miss Guidry told the commissioners that in fiscal year 2025 Pass Tran provided 22,590 rides and that 3,268 ride requests were denied that year. "Pass Tran is the only public transportation that we have in Pender County," she said, and added that the system serves medical appointments, employment trips and other needs across Pender County and into nearby towns such as Wilmington, Leland and Jacksonville.
Guidry outlined two grant streams staff are pursuing. For the rural 5311 administrative grant she said the total award is $240,897 and the program requires a 15% local match; the county match request for that grant is $36,135. For operating funds (FTA 5310/5311 operating assistance, as described in discussion), Guidry said Pass Tran received about $180,000 and had been able this year to use a $90,000 state grant as part of the match; she asked county staff and the board to consider how best to apply available state rural operating funds to match the operating grant.
She also said the system needs two replacement vans (Ford Transit-style) in the 2026 fiscal year; the county match for replacement vehicles would be 10% and she estimated the county match at about $21,200. Guidry described an immediate operational gap: on the morning of the meeting Pass Tran had to decline roughly five requests for service because every vehicle and driver was already on the road. She described the desire to add one or two expansion vehicles to reduce daily denials and to have a spare vehicle for maintenance and unexpected breakdowns; she said NCDOT prefers agencies to maintain a spare vehicle.
Guidry described operational improvements made this year: a computerized scheduling system, expanded driver training (from 10 to 15 drivers), and cross‑agency coordination including a memorandum with Novant Health to bring patients back to Pender County. Dispatch hours were given as Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.; early morning pickups can begin as early as 5 a.m. for work and dialysis trips. She said Pass Tran is also working to increase awareness through social media and outreach and is coordinating with the Cape Fear Council of Governments and Medicaid for eligible transports.
No members of the public signed up to speak at the hearing; the county closed the public hearing and the staff said the formal approval of the county’s local match was on the consent agenda (the consent agenda later passed unanimously).
Action: Public hearing held and closed; staff will return on the consent agenda for formal acceptance of required local matches and vehicle purchase funding as appropriate.
Clarifying details provided by the director at the hearing: 22,590 rides in FY2025; 2,342 wheelchair/lift (non‑ambulatory) rides in FY2025; request for $36,135 county match for the FTA 5311 administrative grant; estimated county match ~$21,200 for two replacement transit vans (10% local match); expansion vehicle local match estimated at 20% depending on vehicle funding source.
