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Regional transit asks for help; committee narrows LRTA recommendation to $350,000
Summary
Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority asked for $507,051; after discussion about federal grant declines and local-match needs the committee proposed $350,000 for LRTA as a compromise and asked staff to evaluate ATAX or other options.
The Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority (LRTA or Palmetto Breeze) asked the town for $507,051 to support transit operations and local matching funds, including $35,000 to subsidize trolley passenger fares and an additional $397,051 to secure an FTA grant. Brian Sullivan, LRTA executive director, said the daily commuter service averages roughly 200–210 passengers per day and described a recent drop in federal grant availability that has increased pressure on local-match providers.
Committee members expressed concern about the size of the increase and discussed options to reduce the town contribution (for example, excluding a $20,000 holiday-season trolley expansion that would lower the match and reduce corresponding federal match). After back-and-forth, members floated compromise figures and for discussion purposes landed on $350,000 as a recommended town contribution while asking staff to identify potential ATAX or other dedicated funding sources for transit match needs. Sullivan emphasized the commuter ridership and the fragility of federal grant timing when explaining LRTA’s request: “The daily commuter program runs 362 days a year. It averages about 200, 210 passengers per day.”
