Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carroll County awards FY26 transit operations contract to Ride With Us; commissioners flag grant risk
Summary
Commissioners approved a one-year FY26 contract worth $2,579,336.38 to Ride With Us LLC to operate Carroll Transit System, with a multi-year term and options. Staff said about half of funding comes from state/federal grants and the contract includes fiscal-availability protections and an option to cancel if grant funding disappears.
Carroll County commissioners on May 22 approved a term contract with Ride With Us LLC to operate the Carroll Transit System for fiscal year 2026 at a cost of $2,579,336.38.
The Department of Public Works said Ride With Us was the only responsive proposer when the contract was solicited in March. The procurement official told commissioners the five-year term includes two one-year renewal options; county staff said the board will be asked to renew funding annually and that the county contract contains a fiscal-availability clause and an explicit right to cancel the contract should grant funding disappear.
"That is part of the bid documents that is grant funded, and the county has the right to cancel the contract should funding disappear," a Department of Public Works representative said, explaining the contract's contingency language.
Commissioners pressed staff on the financial risk if federal or state grants decline. A commissioner asked whether the county would be left to cover the service should those grants evaporate; staff replied that the FY26 amount is budgeted and that the five-year term was sought to provide stability, but that the board would vote each year on renewal and could decline further renewals if fiscal availability changed. Staff said the five-year contract total would be "just over $15 million" (company representatives and staff provided the FY26 number; the multi-year total will depend on future budgets and grant availability).
The contract covers all three county services (door-to-door, Trailblazer and veteran transport). Staff also said much of the contract remains grant-funded for FY26; grant funding covered nearly half of current operations and the county expects to use remaining CARES funds in FY26 before those funds expire.
The board approved the award despite a few commissioners expressing reservations about long-term commitment if external grant funding declines; the motion passed on a voice vote.
