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Moscow council approves $5,000 to support regional COAST transit pilot
Summary
The Moscow City Council voted 4-2 on May 5 to approve a one-time $5,000 payment to COAST (Council on Aging & Human Services) to help close a local-match gap for a new rural transit route linking Colfax, Pullman, Albion and Moscow.
The Moscow City Council voted 4-2 on May 5 to approve a one-time $5,000 payment to COAST (Council on Aging & Human Services) to help close a local-match shortfall for a new rural transit service linking Colfax, Pullman, Albion and Moscow.
The payment will be made under a services agreement with COAST and staff were directed to draft the agreement for the mayor’s signature. Council discussion focused on limited city budget capacity, the value of the service for medical and dialysis trips and concerns about setting a precedent for future one-time funding requests.
Paige Collins, identified to council as COAST’s executive director, had asked the cities for local match support after the Port of Whitman committed $40,000 and Avista offered to match municipal contributions. Councilors said Pullman declined to commit immediate funds because COAST competes with Pullman for Washington state transit funding.
Council members who supported the payment said COAST provides essential rides to medical appointments and grocery shopping for rural residents and that Avista’s matching pledge doubled the city’s impact. Council members who opposed the payment cited concerns about precedent and the city’s limited budget.
The motion passed on a roll call that recorded four ayes and two nays; council staff said the $5,000 would come from the council’s “non-prioritized projects” line item, an existing budget line set aside for unanticipated expenditures.
What the council decided - Action: approve a one-time $5,000 payment to COAST to support startup of the rural transit route between Colfax, Pullman, Albion and Moscow. Staff will prepare a services agreement for mayoral execution. - Funding source: council non-prioritized projects line item (staff said $10,000 is budgeted there annually).
Why it matters Councilors and COAST emphasized that the service could bring rural residents into Moscow for dialysis, wound care and shopping — services some neighboring communities lack — and that matching funds from Avista leveraged the city’s contribution.
What remains unclear COAST and staff told the council there were no firm ridership forecasts for Moscow-origin trips for the new route; councilors requested additional ridership or utilization estimates if COAST returns for future requests.
Votes at a glance - Motion: approve a one-time contribution of $5,000 to COAST (services agreement). Tally: 4 ayes, 2 nays. Outcome: approved.
Speakers quoted or recorded in council discussion were limited to COAST’s executive director and council members; staff said additional details about ridership could be requested before any future commitments.
A staff-prepared services agreement will formalize the payment; councilors said it would be brought to the mayor for signature once drafted.
