Charlottesville transit plan requires dozens more drivers and $2.2M year‑one boost, staff says

City staff told council that an updated optimization of Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) operations increases the system staffing target to about 106 drivers — roughly 40 more than current staffing levels — and that those drivers require additional supervisors, mechanics and operational support.

"We need 40 additional drivers," the transit presentation stated, and staff highlighted that driver hires come with supporting costs: supervision, mechanics and additional operational staff to keep buses on the road. Staff estimated an initial funding increase for transit of about $2.2 million in year one, with the city’s share of CAT operations shown at approximately $6.1 million and the county share at about $3 million.

Council members pressed staff on how the zero‑fare policy, collective bargaining and long‑range commitments affect affordability. Staff said decisions already made (collective bargaining outcomes and transit prioritization) pre‑commit resources and will require additional budget capacity in later years unless other priorities change.

Council asked staff to model the multi‑year fiscal impacts of transit commitments alongside other priorities such as schools and affordable housing, and to identify possible offsets. Staff agreed to return with more detailed projections that tie transit staffing scenarios to collective‑bargaining outcomes and operating cost estimates.

The transit discussion was a substantive driver of the FY2027 budget gap conversation and figured into council members’ deliberations about whether to advertise a real‑estate tax rate increase.