Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Red Bank staff propose sunsetting city subsidy to CARTA paratransit; commissioners debate alternatives
Summary
Staff propose phasing out Red Bank’s subsidy for CARTA paratransit (a $50,000 placeholder through Dec. 2026) amid rising costs; commissioners questioned equity impacts, reviewed ridership data (23 users/1,294 trips in 2025) and discussed potential county support, grants or program limits instead of full subsidy elimination.
At the work session, Director Slay and city staff presented a plan in the FY27 budget to phase out Red Bank’s direct subsidy for CARTA paratransit services. The proposal preserves a $50,000 placeholder in the FY27 estimate to cover service through Dec. 2026 while staff continue discussions with CARTA and Hamilton County about longer-term funding and alternatives.
Director Slay provided ridership data and cost scenarios: in calendar 2025 the service for Red Bank recorded about 23 individual users who accumulated 1,294 trips; January–March 2026 figures show 16 users and 539 trips. CARTA’s highest‑use scenario presented to staff would be 2,800 trips at a total cost of $173,600; with county contributions and grants, Red Bank’s share could fall to about $70,000. Slay said the city cannot guarantee outside contributions and characterized the $50,000 in FY27 as a temporary bridge to December 2026 to allow staff and current riders time to adjust.
Commission debate ranged from practical budget arithmetic to concerns for riders who rely on the service. One commissioner argued forcefully against ending the subsidy: "I do not see how that supports our unanimously adopted commission goal of a comprehensive and safe multimodal transportation network for all users," and said losing the service would harm residents who depend on it for work and medical trips. Other commissioners and the city manager emphasized structural funding limits at the regional level and urged exploring tiered service models, grant opportunities and non‑paratransit options for some trips.
Staff and commissioners outlined a set of follow-ups: continue conversations with CARTA about service design and potential grant applications; analyze whether a tiered model (medical trips prioritized, alternative ridesourcing for less‑specialized trips) can lower per‑trip cost; develop communication and transition planning for current paratransit riders if the subsidy is reduced or ended. No formal decision or vote was taken at this session.
