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Jonesboro committee forwards 3-year pilot transit deal with Arkansas State University; adds six drivers
Summary
The Finance and Administration Committee voted to forward a resolution to full council to enter a three-year pilot transit service agreement with Arkansas State University that adds four full‑time drivers and two paratransit drivers and allows ASU students and faculty to ride free under the pilot.
The Jonesboro Finance and Administration Committee voted to forward to the full City Council a resolution authorizing a three‑year pilot transit service agreement with Arkansas State University that would add four full‑time fixed‑route drivers and two full‑time paratransit drivers to the city’s service.
Committee members said the added drivers will fund an expanded level of campus service while maintaining citywide routes. Lee, a transit staff member who answered committee questions, said the paratransit positions are required to expand alongside any fixed‑route growth: “paratransit is a required piece of any service that we provide.”
The agreement, described by staff as a pilot, includes provisions for free rides for Arkansas State students and faculty using their university IDs. Staff said drivers already on payroll could be moved into some of the added positions to provide flexibility between paratransit and fixed‑route duties.
Committee discussion focused on operational details: whether the ASU service would reduce city service, how student riders would be identified, and how ridership will be tracked. Lee described the fare‑tracking process on drivers’ tablets and said the university will provide IDs that the transit system will enter into its fare system so usage can be monitored. “We will still be tracking all of our ridership,” staff said.
The resolution as presented also calls for a FY2025 budget amendment to add the six positions. Committee members asked how the city arrived at the cost estimate; staff said the estimate used other agencies’ cost‑per‑hour operating figures and will be refined as data are collected during the pilot.
The city and Arkansas State included a termination provision in the draft: staff said the contract allows either party to end the agreement with 90 days’ written notice. The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council for approval.
The measure will return to the council with the same terms sent by the committee; full council will consider final approval and the associated FY2025 budget amendment.
