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County approves RTS FY26 service plan; asks city to cover weekend service to Grace Marketplace and airport
Summary
The county approved RTS staff's FY26 service recommendation and asked the City of Gainesville to fund weekend bus service to Grace Marketplace and the airport; the board also requested MTPO study rural transit options and agreed to a one-year contract.
The Alachua County commission on May 13 approved staff's recommended option for the Regional Transit System (RTS) county service proposal for fiscal year 2026, keeping most county-supported routes in place while asking the City of Gainesville to pay for expanded weekend service to Grace Marketplace and the airport.
County transit staff presented three options. Option 1 would largely preserve existing service with minor adjustments tied to University of Florida route realignments and a net cost reduction of about $112,000. Option 2 preserved existing service while increasing service outside the urbanized area (the "5311" federal program) and raising the county contribution to a fare-free program to reach a 50-cent subsidy per trip; staff recommended this option as budget-neutral relative to FY25. Option 3 added micro-transit (mobility-on-demand) in the Jonesville area and would raise county costs by roughly $275,000.
Staff recommended Option 2 (existing service with increased outside-urban-area support and a higher fare-free subsidy). Commissioners discussed add-on items: weekend service on Route 26 to Grace Marketplace (estimated $100,000) and restoring airport weekend service, both of which city staff indicated were not funded by the city. Commissioner Wheeler moved adoption of staff's recommendation and asked staff to request that the City of Gainesville fund weekend service to Grace and the airport or, if the city does not, to bring the item to a joint meeting for discussion. The motion also directed that the county seek a presentation to the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) on rural transit options and approved a one-year contract renewal to allow adjustments once MTPO staffing and studies are completed. The motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: RTS provides critical mobility for low-income and transit-dependent residents and for workers who cannot drive. The county contributes to several routes outside the urban core; decisions about weekend service and micro-transit affect access to jobs, groceries and social services.
What the commission decided: Adopt staff recommendation for FY26 with the additions above: (1) ask the city to fund weekend service to Grace Marketplace and the airport or discuss it at the joint meeting; (2) request MTPO present rural transit studies/options; (3) approve a one-year renewal for the county contract.
Next steps: Staff to prepare the draft contract for commission consideration reflecting a one-year term, pursue city discussions about funding weekend service, and schedule an MTPO presentation on rural transit options.
