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Council asks Via and staff for cost and demand modeling before committing to pilot
Summary
Councilmembers requested breakeven and scenario modeling showing how service zone, hours, ADA needs and fare policies affect projected costs; Via supplied illustrative cost figures (e.g., $10,000 app fee, 50¢ brokerage fee, $45,000 dedicated vehicle) and recommended beginning with a modest pilot.
Councilmembers repeatedly requested numerical modeling to understand how demand, service zone size, hours and ADA requirements drive costs. Thomas DeRidder said Via can run projections based on demand and usage assumptions; he provided illustrative figures for planning: a $10,000 installation fee for third‑party brokerage, a 50¢ per‑ride brokerage fee, roughly $45,000 upfront for a single dedicated vehicle and hourly rates in the mid‑$70s for staffed vehicle operation.
Members emphasized starting small to limit budget exposure and to collect early usage data to guide expansion. DeRidder recommended a pilot phase that gathers trip volumes, origins/destinations and ADA usage so the city can adjust service hours, boundaries and subsidy caps based on observed demand rather than assumptions.
