Council approves changes to Winchester Transit: keeps one loop bus, shifts one to on-demand service

Winchester City Council on a voice vote approved Resolution R-2025-21 on modifications to Winchester Transit, adopting option 2 with option A to keep one fixedloop vehicle in service while reallocating the other loop bus to the WinReady on-demand system.

The vote, moved by Mayor Beach, came after a lengthy presentation by Perry Eisenach, director of public services, and follow-up detail from Kenny, transit operations manager. Eisenach told the council that WinReady demand has outstripped capacity: during April, 1,700 ride requests could not be served; the first part of June already showed about 444–477 unserved ride requests through the Monday–Saturday period. He said shifting one of the two loop buses to WinReady would reduce the number of unserved requests while preserving a predictable fixed route for riders who prefer it.

The resolution also endorses changes to the Laurel Ridge route: to discontinue Bridal (a low‑use stop) and to suspend Friday service during the summer term beginning in summer 2026. Eisenach said implementing option 2 with Laurel Ridge changes would leave an FY26 budget shortfall of about $28,500 after an estimated $15,000 in savings from Laurel Ridge changes and a $43,500 additional operating cost to keep a loop bus running all day. He said the city could pursue a future fare adjustment to help cover that gap; raising the loop route fare from $1.00 to $1.50 was estimated to yield about $12,500 annually but would require a separate 30‑day public comment period before implementation.

Council members asked for regular reporting back on performance and rider feedback. Councilor Fox and others supported the one‑bus loop plus more WinReady capacity with a follow‑up report in a few months. Councilor Newton and others asked for data on wait times and effect on riders; staff said they would return with usage and geographic hotspot data drawn from the WinReady app and dispatch records. Mayor Beach made the motion to approve option 2 with option A; no second was recorded in the transcript. The motion carried by voice vote.

Eisenach and Kenny described additional details the council heard during discussion: WinReady currently operates about six vehicles at peak and the FY26 budget includes funds for additional WinReady vehicles; the city budgeted to add vehicles so peak WinReady capacity could reach nine buses when fully deployed. A new WinReady vehicle is budgeted at about $145,000; staff said future vehicles will be smaller, ADA‑accessible units rather than large buses. Staff also said roughly 30% of total WinReady rides are paratransit riders (door‑to‑door required under ADA whenever fixed routes operate), and that paratransit riders will continue to be served. Staff reported that about 60% of bookings still occur by phone and that dispatchers can text or call app users when needed to resolve booking issues.

Council discussion covered potential partnerships and revenue sources: members asked whether local institutions (colleges, hospital, major employers, retailers) might contribute funding or student activity fee support as happens in some university towns. Eisenach said the city has had early conversations with Southern University (SU) and Laurel Ridge and that hospitals could partner to subsidize rides to medical appointments. Councilors and staff also discussed potential policy changes to address no‑shows for free youth rides during peak school periods.

The council directed staff to bring a followup on fares and financial options to finance committee and to return with operational data and rider feedback after the service change is implemented.