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Area transit agency asks Riley County for increased support, outlines on‑demand and fleet priorities
Summary
Riley County public transit officials briefed the commission on rising costs, an aging fleet and a proposal to pilot microtransit; they asked local funders for a 15% increase to leverage additional federal and state matching dollars.
Representatives of the region’s public transit provider told the Riley County Commission on May 8 that operating costs and fleet needs have increased and asked local funding partners to consider a 15% budget increase for 2026 to support operations, software upgrades and driver recruitment.
The agency said it continues to receive most funding from federal and state grants but that those grants require a local match. Agency staff said fares cannot be used as the required local match. The presenter described three primary needs: (1) modern dispatch and scheduling software to enable same‑day and microtransit-style on‑demand trips, (2) replacement of an aging vehicle fleet amid rising vehicle prices and limited chassis availability, and (3) higher wages to address driver recruitment and retention challenges.
The agency reported ridership gains in recent years on several routes, and a 34% increase in one connector service. Officials noted current scheduling software does not support microtransit or app‑based trip requests, which the transit study consultants had recommended testing in a limited pilot. Staff said pilot implementation would require scheduling and customer‑facing software and training.
Presenters asked local partners to consider a 15% increase in their allocations; the agency said that additional local investment would leverage roughly $52,500 in additional state and federal funds and help reduce turnover costs by permitting more competitive wages.
Commissioners did not take immediate action on the request; staff said the agency will continue to work through a winter/spring transit study, collect public comment and return with formal budget numbers during the county’s budget process.
