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Portsmouth council debates whether to move microtransit study from grant-dependence to city-funded
Summary
Councilors and members of the public debated moving CIP funding for a microtransit feasibility study from 'aspirational' federal grants to capital outlay or revenues. Supporters warned federal funding is shrinking; opponents said the city should not preclude grant pursuit. Council tabled the funding-change motion to Dec. 8 so the Sustainability Committee can review studies.
Councilors and residents debated on Nov. 17 whether the city should rely on uncertain federal and state grants or place local capital funds up front to advance a proposed microtransit study.
Bill Lyons of the Sustainability Committee urged councilors to fund a microtransit shuttle feasibility study, saying it would address transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions and "provide lower-cost access to jobs and other destinations" for residents. Lyons described a potential shuttle corridor linking Lafayette Road, Route 1, Islington and downtown destinations.
At least one councilor, however, said moving the project's funding from aspirational federal grants to the city's capital outlay could be premature. "If there was federal funding or state funding available, that this doesn't eliminate that we could use that if it was available," Councilor Blaylock said, urging preservation of grant options.
Councilor Cook pushed to place funding as capital outlay or revenues so the project could proceed without waiting for uncertain grant awards; she and others pointed to cuts in federal and state transit funding and argued that relying on grants could delay the study by two years.
After discussion — which included references to earlier VIA and parking studies, and to the Coast bus system's role — councilors voted to table the motion to change the funding source and to return to the item on Dec. 8 after the Sustainability Committee reviews existing studies and provides input.
What happens next: The motion to change the funding source was tabled to the Dec. 8 meeting. The Sustainability Committee was asked to review the VIA parking/microtransit study and advise councilors before the next vote.
