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Council awards five-year transit operations contract to Via Transit
Summary
Rochester City Council approved a five-year, approximately $78 million contract awarding Via Transit the management and operations of Rochester Public Transit, with the operator transition planned for Sept. 1 and provisions for performance reporting and employee transition outreach.
Rochester’s City Council voted on July 6 to award a five-year contract to Via Transit Twin Cities LLC to operate Rochester Public Transit starting Sept. 1, approving an agreement the city estimates at just under $78,000,000 for the initial term with options to renew.
The council’s transit and parking director, Rachel Faust, described a multi-stage procurement: an RFP issued in December attracted five proposers, three advanced to interviews, and an evaluation committee that included city and Mayo staff recommended Via based on its technology integration, transition plan and proposed paratransit improvements. Faust said the contract covers fixed-route, paratransit and maintenance services and will support the LINC bus rapid transit project coming online next year.
“Via stood out with their level of innovation, strong use of technology and a data-driven approach,” Faust said, while describing a transition designed to limit disruption and to allow existing hourly and union-represented employees to apply for jobs with the incoming operator. Faust said Via would begin hiring staff within weeks if the council approved the award and that the city expects the operator to begin work on Sept. 1.
Via representatives said the company will offer a mobile app for paratransit scheduling and live vehicle tracking and will integrate with the city’s payment and AVL systems. Matt Dias, appearing for Via, said the vendor had ridden the system, engaged drivers and planned to support the city’s commissioning and testing for the LINC BRT.
Union and rider supporters spoke during public comment. Adam Busby, an ATU local representative, urged the council to treat transit workers respectfully during the change in operators and said the union’s long-term preference is public operation; Busby called for listening and cooperation from the incoming contractor.
Faust told council members the contract includes performance expectations (for example, on-time and completed trips) and reporting to MnDOT and FTA partners. She also said Via’s app features for paratransit would allow text, phone or app notifications and live tracking to reduce uncertainty for riders.
Council members praised the selection process and the city’s outreach to staff and riders, and the council adopted the resolution awarding the contract. The motion to award the contract carried following discussion of the transition timeline, WARN notification requirements and expectations for performance reporting.
