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Carbondale keeps extended Downtowner/WeCycle service in draft budget; trustees ask six-month review
Summary
Staff said the draft 2026 budget accommodates funding for an expanded Downtowner/WeCycle third van and driver for a full year to reduce peak wait times. Trustees agreed to proceed, with a planned six-month performance review and continued coordination with Rafta on regional cost-sharing.
Town staff confirmed that the draft budget includes funding to maintain an expanded Downtowner/WeCycle service (a third van and driver) for a full year to reduce peak-hour wait times. The line appears in the budget as a funded expansion supported in part by grant revenue for the current year; absent future external support, the town's contribution would cover the net cost in 2026.
Staff said the full-year figure reflects the added driver and deployment during peak demand, noting that much of the incremental cost is for driver pay because the vehicle was already purchased and available. Trustees agreed to the one-year funding and asked staff to review ridership and wait-time data after six months; if ridership and performance metrics do not improve, trustees said they would revisit the decision. Trustees also asked staff to continue discussions with Rafta and other regional partners to explore cost-sharing or service redesigns that could reduce the town’s long-term exposure if grant revenue ends.
No final change to service was implemented at the meeting; trustees asked staff to monitor usage and return with data and recommended performance indicators.
