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Transit committee studies options for Saturday fixed‑route service; no changes approved
Summary
Committee reviewed ridership surveys and options — eliminate service, shorten hours, consolidate routes, hourly runs, or replace afternoon service with microtransit — and decided to refer further analysis to the city’s structural deficit committee; no formal service change will occur before January if enacted.
The Oshkosh Transportation Committee discussed possible changes to Saturday fixed‑route transit service as departments analyze options to address the city’s budget pressures and staffing constraints. Committee members did not approve any change at the meeting; they referred further study to the city manager’s structural deficit committee and asked staff to provide more data before any action.
Staff presented survey results gathered mainly from Saturday riders that showed many weekday employment trips on Saturdays are by full‑time workers traveling between roughly 6:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. A follow‑up survey of employment riders indicated most work traditional eight‑hour shifts and return in the afternoon. Staff outlined options including keeping the status quo; eliminating Saturday service; delaying the start or ending service earlier; consolidating or reducing route frequency; or replacing some afternoon fixed‑route segments with a microtransit (shared‑ride taxi) service.
Staff emphasized constraints: operators are unionized and schedule bids occur every few months, so any change would require time to adjust rosters; implementing changes would likely not occur before January. Staff also cited staffing concerns tied to the new transit center and safety/coverage gaps on Saturday afternoons that may require hiring an additional street supervisor if Saturday hours remain unchanged.
Financial tradeoffs were discussed. Staff reported a microtransit cost of about $26.50 per ride with the current provider, while the city’s Access to Jobs program charges $4 for eligible riders; the transit system today funds roughly 55% of operating costs through federal and state sources and local match. Committee members noted the risk that making microtransit too inexpensive could attract riders who currently pay for private rides, raising subsidy costs. Valley Transit’s recent experience was referenced: initial rider behavior shifted when microtransit pricing made it more attractive than fixed‑route service.
Committee members also stressed the broader economic impact: cutting Saturday service could affect workers’ ability to get to shifts and, by extension, local businesses’ staffing. Staff said savings estimates require more detailed modeling to predict how many fixed‑route afternoon trips would convert to microtransit and whether the city would attract new rides.
The committee concluded with no vote to alter service; instead, members agreed to continue evaluating options and report back with more detailed cost and ridership modeling.
