Council increases Dial‑A‑Ride appropriation and orders immediate limits after surge in college riders

The City Council on Feb. 10 approved an emergency appropriation to cover unexpectedly large Dial‑A‑Ride expenditures and directed staff to implement immediate, targeted cost‑containment measures after consultants showed ridership surged following integration with Uber and heavy trip activity originating at the Claremont Colleges.

Community Services Manager Kristen Mikula said the system — historically sized for seniors, people with disabilities and limited general‑public usage — saw large general‑public growth beginning in July 2025 and that trips to Montclair and Target were a major cost driver. Staff recommended appropriating $1,033,000 this fiscal year from reserved Metro transit funds to cover higher than anticipated costs and pursuing a package of strategies to bring recurring costs back toward historic annual levels (≈$650,000).

The immediate steps the council authorized include removing Target as an allowed out‑of‑city destination and placing a monthly cap of 16 one‑way trips for general‑public riders. Mikula and Agape Mobility consultant Derek Fred said those two changes can be implemented right away and are expected to yield significant savings. Staff will complete a federal‑required fare analysis and public‑hearing process before any fare increases or hours reductions (proposals to raise the general‑public fare and to modify senior/disabled subsidies were discussed but require public notice and hearings).

Public commenters urged the council to avoid cutting senior and disabled subsidies; several speakers asked staff to remove the proposed senior/disabled fare increase from the immediate package and to ensure medically necessary early‑morning or late‑evening trips remain available. Council members amended the staff approach to preserve senior/disabled protections while moving forward on the immediate service‑area and trip‑cap changes, and they asked staff to return with a fare‑analysis timeline and equity review for any later proposals.

Staff estimated that the suite of strategies under consideration (service‑area adjustments, monthly trip caps, fare adjustments and a narrowed overnight schedule) would reduce projected expenditures from an estimated $1,000,000+ back toward the $650,000 target; staff projected the specific package could bring costs to about $685,000 if fully implemented. The city will monitor usage monthly with PVTA and Agape Mobility to recalibrate as needed.

The city’s funding decision for this fiscal year draws on reserved and unallocated Metro transit funds; councilors said they expect to return to a sustainable recurring funding level with the cost‑containment package pending public feedback on fare proposals.