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Tehachapi council finds no unmet transit needs; resolution preserves $835,000 in statewide transit funds
Summary
Council adopted a resolution finding no unmet transit needs reasonable to meet, preserving the city's eligibility for Transportation Development Act funds after staff said ridership fell and the required 10% farebox ratio was met using one-time federal relief funds.
The Tehachapi City Council adopted a resolution finding there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet within the city, a required finding to receive Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding next fiscal year.
Hamed (staff member) told the council ridership for the city's dial-a-ride service decreased 7.4% compared with the prior fiscal year while operating costs increased 11.2%. The city must meet a 10% farebox ratio under TDA rules (farebox revenue divided by total expenses); this year the farebox ratio was 0.54%. Hamed said the city used $26,000 from coronavirus response and relief supplemental appropriation funds to satisfy the TDA requirement, which allowed the city to remain eligible for roughly $835,000 in Local Transportation Fund (LTF) and State Transit Assistance (STA) allocations in the current fiscal year.
The council discussed service options. Council members and staff said they have explored fixed-route service, different vehicle sizes and other alternatives, but that dial-a-ride remains the mandated model for the community and provides door-to-door service for riders with disabilities. "Uber cannot provide what the dial-a-ride provides," one council member said, citing insurance and accessibility concerns. Staff noted Current Transit has offered free fares during parts of the year; that practice has reduced farebox revenue and contributed to the low farebox ratio.
During public comment, speakers and council members noted the service is used regularly by some residents and that it supports eligibility for streets-and-roads funding. After discussion, a motion to adopt the staff recommendation passed 5-0.
Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve consent agenda as presented. Vote: 5-0 (Council members Chung, Davies, Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Power, Mayor Pogancourt recorded yes). Note: routine items on the consent agenda were approved by unanimous roll call. - Motion: Adopt a resolution finding no unmet transit needs reasonable to meet (to maintain TDA eligibility). Vote: 5-0 (Chung, Davies, Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Power, Mayor Pogancourt). Note: staff said the action preserved eligibility for approximately $835,000 in LTF/STA funds; the city used $26,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to meet the farebox percentage requirement this year.
The council instructed staff to continue outreach and advertising to boost ridership and to evaluate service alternatives, while acknowledging state requirements and the operational needs of riders with disabilities.
