Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit And Mobility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council asks staff to explore audit of CapMetro pickup costs after members spotlight $1.18M expense
Summary
Council directed staff to explore an audit/investigation into CapMetro pickup costs after staff presented the agency’s estimate that Lago Vista’s pickup service accounted for roughly $1.186 million in FY24; members raised concern about high per‑ride costs and limited coverage.
Lago Vista City Council directed staff to pursue further inquiry into CapMetro’s pickup‑service costs after reviewing agency figures that show the city’s FY2024 pickup service contributed roughly $1.186 million to overall charges.
What council saw: Staff circulated CapMetro’s summary showing total hours and a staff‑provided cost‑per‑hour estimate (roughly $148/hour) for the pickup service, which is the city’s largest single transit charge. Council members and residents questioned the method and magnitude of the charge: staff noted roughly 21,700 billed pickup trips and about 24,000 passenger boardings for the period, and council calculating the agency figure yields an approximate subsidy near $50 per boarding for pickup service under the current fleet and operating assumptions.
Concerns raised: Council members said the pickup service relies on large ADA‑capable buses for many short trips, producing high vehicle and maintenance costs. Several members and residents said they have seen near‑empty pickup vehicles on routes while citizens elsewhere in the city lack pickup coverage. Members discussed whether smaller vehicles or modified service models could reduce costs and better extend service to underserved neighborhoods.
Council direction: The council unanimously asked staff to explore options for a focused financial review or audit of CapMetro’s charges and service model and to return with pricing and options for an audit or a more formal investigation. Councilmembers said they want staff to pursue alternatives — from renegotiation and service redesign to an audit of billed hours and equipment usage — and to include conversation with the school district where pickup service use overlaps student transportation.
Next steps: Staff will report back with a proposal for an audit or financial review, a timeline and estimated cost to the city. Councilmembers said they will continue dialogue with CapMetro staff and the school district to push for service models that are less costly and more responsive to local needs.
