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Council makes transit service enhancements permanent after ridership rises in trial
Summary
After a trial that returned ridership growth of 21% (Dec over Nov) and a further 15% increase in January, the council approved permanent changes — extended evening fixed‑route hours, route redesign to reduce transfers, and a flex line — intended to improve access and ADA trip availability without tapping general fund dollars.
Transit staff (presenter identified as Wayne in the record) summarized a trial redesign that modified east–west routing to reduce transfers, extended fixed‑route evening service to 6 p.m., absorbed an H‑Street shuttle into a flex/Bridge House run, and tested reduced fares/free‑fare trials in coordination with SBCAG. The trial produced measurable ridership gains.
"In the month of December, we experienced a ridership growth of 21%" compared with November, Wayne said; January saw an additional 15% increase from December. The revisions also dramatically reduced paratransit trip denials (from 51 trip denials in Sep–Nov to 4 in December and 0 in January after adding a flex line to absorb demand).
Staff told the council the changes did not require additional general fund support and stayed within contract limits for service‑hour increases. Councilmember Ball moved to adopt the enhancements (A–F in the staff report) on a permanent basis; the motion passed 5‑0.
Next steps: staff will finalize schedules and fare alignment recommendations for the county blue line and continue to monitor ridership and ADA performance.
