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Council weighs consolidating GoGeo paratransit and Ride GTX voucher program to one service
Summary
Staff presented performance, costs and options for GoGeo (senior paratransit) and Ride GTX (voucher/WAVs). Council discussed consolidating programs to a single service to reduce administrative complexity and address an expected FY26 funding shortfall; members emphasized preserving continuity for frequent paratransit riders and testing phased transitions over 6–8 months.
City transportation staff reviewed two complementary programs providing mobility for seniors and riders with disabilities and sought council feedback on options to consolidate them into one service model.
Lua (transportation) described GoGeo, the city's senior/lift paratransit service, and Ride GTX, a voucher and WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) program operated through a rideshare partner. Lua reported early ridership trends: GoGeo provided several thousand trips in FY25; Ride GTX usage is rising month to month but staff still characterize the data set as early and growing.
On costs, staff said GoGeo is a fixed‑cost contract with CapMetro (~$258,000 in the base year) and Ride GTX carries implementation and voucher costs; combined FY27 operating costs for both programs were projected at about $723,000, with a midyear shortfall projected at roughly $70,000 under current funding assumptions. Staff outlined options to reduce costs: limit WAV hours, renegotiate contract scopes with Trip (the partner), increase rider contributions (e.g., from $4 to $6 per trip), or consolidate into a single program and absorb GoGeo trips into Ride GTX. Lua estimated it could take about 6–8 months to transition regular GoGeo users to GTX with deliberate outreach and enrollment.
Council members supported exploring consolidation but stressed continuity for people who rely on scheduled paratransit for dialysis, work or medical care. Members also asked staff to model targeted hour reductions rather than large rider fee increases and to explore event funding (CVB) or partnerships to cover service spikes for festivals. Staff will return with costed options, potential contract modifications, and a transition plan that includes outreach to frequent GoGeo users to preserve service continuity.
What happens next: staff will model a set of options, including adjusted service hours, rider fee changes and a phased transition plan with specific protections for frequent paratransit riders. Council indicated informal support for consolidating if the final plan protects access for medically necessary or regularly scheduled riders and provides a clear outreach and enrollment period.
