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Council authorizes TDA claim for Via on‑demand service but delays decision on proposed fare increases
Summary
After a long workshop on the city’s on‑demand rideshare program (Via), council voted to submit the fiscal year 2025‑26 Transportation Development Act claim to SACOG but deferred a decision on staff’s recommendation to raise the weekly Via Pass from $15 to $28, asking staff for more options and data on impacts to seniors and low‑income riders.
The West Sacramento City Council on Aug. 20 authorized staff to submit the fiscal year 2025‑26 Transportation Development Act (TDA) claim related to the city’s on‑demand rideshare program and decided to defer action on staff’s proposed fare changes while collecting additional data and alternatives.
Stephanie Chan, senior transportation planner, summarized program performance: since launching in February 2018 the city’s Via program has provided more than 1,000,000 rides and completed about 198,000 rides in FY24‑25. Chan presented a staff analysis showing Via Pass holders account for a disproportionate share of vehicle hours (Via Pass users represent about 16% of monthly rides but 49% of vehicle hours), and staff estimated the program faces an estimated $1.08 million shortfall for FY26 and a recurring $2.4 million annual gap thereafter unless changes are made.
Staff proposed increasing the weekly Via Pass from $15 to $28 (single rides would remain $3.50) and pilot a distance‑based structure for downtown Sacramento trips; staff said this would better align frequent‑rider pricing with regional transit passes and reduce subsidized vehicle hours. Via’s modeling estimated the proposed Via Pass increase could reduce overall ridership by about 8% and shrink the number of Via Pass holders by roughly 17%.
Council debate was extensive. Multiple council members, including Mayor Pro Tem Sulpizio Hall and Councilmember Orozco, expressed concern about the potential impact of a doubled weekly pass on seniors, low‑income riders and families who rely on Via for errands, school trips and employment connections. Councilmembers suggested alternatives including phased increases, adjusting service hours, enabling mode‑choice technology so the system steers riders toward fixed‑route buses where transit is equivalent, and coordination with Yolo Transportation District on routing and service planning.
Given the TDA deadline for SACOG submittal, Councilmember Early moved (and the council approved) the first two staff recommendations (submitting the TDA claim and associated budget amendments) but declined to adopt staff’s fare increases at this meeting. Council asked staff to return with additional options, demographic and ridership impact data, phased approaches, and potential mode‑choice safeguards to prevent cannibalization of fixed‑route transit.
What’s next: staff will submit the TDA claim as authorized, continue piloting and analysis for the Downtown Sacramento zone, and return to council with refined fare and service alternatives and data on equity and ridership impacts.
