Transit director briefs council on Route 11 ridership, service changes and local funding ask

Transit staff presented a system update to the Amity City Council on March 12 that covered ridership trends, service adjustments tied to rising contract costs, bus stop improvements and a modest local funding request to sustain service.

The presenter (addressed during the meeting as Leah) told the council that Amity accounted for about 20% of Route 11 boardings in an onboard survey baseline used for planning, which staff converted to about 1,844 rides for fiscal year 2024. The presenter said year‑to‑date ridership through February 2025 was 1,249 and that if current trends hold the fiscal year would end with roughly a 2% increase over the prior year. On service, staff explained that the system has faced higher contractor costs after the service provider change and that one trip on Route 11 is being considered for reduction; the presenter also described a three‑agency pilot (regional partnership) intended to improve some corridor service by late summer 2025.

Council members raised local concerns including bus shelter siting and ADA access where ODOT has a curb ramp project; staff said Amity has shelters on both sides of a downtown street and suggested potential relocation in coordination with ODOT to preserve an ADA stop. The presenter described the transit system’s stop inventory (about 175 stops, 26 shelters) and a temporary sign rollout that includes QR codes mapping routes and stops.

On funding, staff explained that roughly 90% of transit funding comes from federal sources but that operating match and contract increases are putting local pressure on budgets; staff presented a one‑time request (recorded in the meeting packet and discussed verbally) and invited council discussion and feedback on contributing as a line item in future budgets. Council members asked staff for follow‑up cost detail to justify any local appropriation and to explore targeted options such as a shopper or medical shuttle funded through available grants.

Staff encouraged the town to flag specific local service priorities and to participate in outreach about fare policy changes (moving toward electronic day‑pass options with affordability safeguards). The presenter also invited the council to coordinate on bus shelter placement during ODOT’s curb ramp work to avoid losing ADA access at key stops.

Next steps identified in the meeting record included staff providing clearer financial detail on the funding request and continuing coordination with ODOT and the county transit operator on shelter siting and service adjustments.