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Council delays vote on three transportation pilots after funding-period questions
Summary
Council continued action on a $600,000 transportation pilot (Key Peninsula fixed route, White River and Spanaway on-demand) to Sept. 30 after members raised questions about the funding period, program start date and whether funds can carry into the next biennium.
The Pierce County Council on Sept. 23 continued consideration of a proposed transportation pilot program that would allocate $600,000 of miscellaneous current expense funds to three pilot services (Key Peninsula, White River and Spanaway). The Human Services Department presented the recommended awards following a competitive RFP process; ATS Trans LLC was the selected provider for all three service areas.
Staff described the Key Peninsula service as a fixed route operating Monday–Saturday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m., and the White River and Spanaway pilots as on-demand services with similar hours. Each pilot was budgeted at $195,000 in the current packet. Council members raised a series of concerns: the original packet language indicated funding was available only through Dec. 31, 2025; members questioned whether the pilots would have adequate time to establish ridership and whether unspent funds could be carried into 2026. Human Services staff said they have discussed carryover with finance and expected the funds could be carried into the next biennium if contracts start within the current biennium, but staff also acknowledged that budget reappropriation authority rests with the council.
After extended discussion and requests for fiscal confirmations, Council Member Krueger moved to continue the item to the Sept. 30 meeting for further information; the motion carried. Human Services said it would proceed with negotiations if the council directs but recommended waiting for final contract authority.
What happens next: The item will return on Sept. 30 with staff answers to council members’ fiscal and implementation questions and, if approved, contracting and a planned service launch around Dec. 1 were discussed as an operational target.
