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START proposes suspending airport shuttle, adding on-demand fare and raising seasonal pay to address driver shortfalls
Summary
START staff told joint boards that recruitment, housing and seasonal wages limit service expansion. They recommended suspending the underperforming airport shuttle, discontinuing a low-use village route, introducing a fare on the on-demand service and requesting wage increases to attract seasonal drivers; officials said federal grants fund 58% of START.
START Director (recorded in the packet as Director Toronto/Traum) told the joint boards that the transit agency is proposing a mix of operational and service changes in the FY27 budget to respond to chronic staffing and housing constraints.
The director said START receives about 58% of its funding from federal grants, roughly 24% from fares and contracts, and the remainder from local matches. For FY27 staff recommended adding one facilities FTE that would be 80% federally funded, holding East Jackson on-demand funding flat pending an RFP, and introducing a modest on-demand fare (budgeted at $120,000) that START staff say will be tested with the next contractor.
On the airport shuttle, START presented ridership data showing the service failed to reach expected KPIs: it averaged 73 riders per day in its best season and fell short of targets thereafter. "We were supposed to achieve 175 riders a day; we reached it one time in the first season," the director said, adding that the net subsidy per passenger for the airport shuttle was about $28 after fares and that combined marketing subsidies pushed the per-passenger cost higher.
"It did not reach most of its KPIs or operational goals," the director said of the airport shuttle, recommending suspension for the coming year so staff can rethink stationing, marketing and partner contributions.
Commissioners pressed START staff on recruitment and housing. "We can't expand service without employees," the director replied, noting hiring is seasonal and the agency had been as many as nine drivers short in the last winter season. START has proposed a higher starting wage for seasonal drivers and restructured the seasonal bonus into a monthly stipend to better offset housing costs.
Councilman Regan and Commissioner Gardner both said they were inclined to support wage increases if they help fill positions; Gardner called housing a primary recruitment barrier and urged collaboration on housing programs for transit employees. Staff also noted START is rebidding its on-demand contract with proposals due May 1 and will return with recommended contract awards and possible budget amendments.
The boards did not take a final vote on the START budget items at the session; staff asked the boards to consider the recommendations and indicated any required amendments would be brought back after RFP results and further analysis.
Direct quotes appearing in this article come from START's presentation and board discussion as recorded in the joint meeting transcript.
