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Transit expansion study, parking modernization and electric buses on council’s FY27 radar
Summary
Transportation Director Ryan Naki briefed the council on Juul Transit and parking operations, noting an FTA award for electric buses, rollout of new ramp gate and license‑plate recognition equipment, and an FTA Areas of Persistent Poverty grant to study route optimization and service hours.
Ryan Naki, director of Transportation Services, presented the transit and parking elements of the FY2027 budget on April 9, outlining operations, equipment needs, and modernization plans.
Naki said Juul Transit operates fixed‑route and paratransit services with 13 light‑duty and 17 heavy‑duty vehicles, 280+ stops, and three transfer locations. He presented an asset‑age summary aligned with FTA useful‑life guidance and said the department is pursuing federal grants to replace aging vehicles. The department reported ridership growth in recent years and a goal to optimize routes and frequency through a new FTA Areas of Persistent Poverty grant that will fund a public‑input‑driven consultant study of service design.
On fleet modernization, the city received federal funding (with a modest local match) to purchase two additional electric or hybrid buses. Naki also described a phased upgrade to ramp gates and parking management: six ramps have new Ammano1 gate hardware with license‑plate recognition (LPR) capability, improving throughput and allowing permitted vehicles to pass without stopping; an RFP for on‑street and mobile pay/LPR technology is underway with a council work session scheduled for early May.
Capital requests include ramp major‑maintenance work over a multi‑year schedule based on an engineering assessment and a FY27 funding ask associated with phased repairs. Naki proposed a limited improvement—adding a part‑time afternoon bus attendant to help manage increased afternoon student loads—and recommended raising monthly permit rates at two ramps (Central and Fifth Street) to align prices across city ramps, with any new permit charges phased in January 2027.
Council and public questions focused on route coverage versus frequency tradeoffs, second‑shift service feasibility and staffing implications, how ridership is measured, and the Port of Dubuque ramp agreement (the casino‑funded ramp remains free to parkers under its development agreement, with maintenance costs billed to the casino). Naki said consultants will provide financial models and service scenarios over the coming year; staff will return to council with options and data as the study proceeds.
