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Council backs keeping START vanpool and Teton Village summer express under review
Summary
Council members agreed to keep a START vanpool pilot and the Teton Village Summer Express service on the aspirational change log and to consult Teton County before finalizing funding for FY26.
Council members on May 14 indicated support for continuing to explore two START public-transit items on the aspirational list: a vanpool pilot and the Teton Village Summer Express route.
Councilman Regan said the vanpool pilot and the Teton Village Express together accounted for about $36,851 of the town's aspirational list; Tyler confirmed the two items appeared on the staff slide and recommended adding them back for further consideration. "If [the county] support[s] it and you support it, fine. We do our 43 to 57 split," Tyler said, describing the town's cost-share arrangement with Teton County for joint services.
Several council members asked that the items remain on the change log and be taken to the joint meeting with county commissioners on June 2 so the county can decide whether to participate. Councilman Regan said the vanpool is a top operational priority for him if the county declines to join.
The council also discussed a larger START vehicle procurement question: whether to purchase diesel or hybrid buses. Staff said recent price increases have pushed some hybrid bus options up, and council members asked staff to return with cost comparisons and a recommendation. "If the goal is to buy four buses ... I'm not even clear what the goal is," Councilman Schechter said; he asked staff to provide clearer options before the June 2 joint meeting.
Staff will return with updated cost figures and joint-department recommendations at the next workshops.
