City forms new transportation organization

Continued bus service to Reno will be a key question under a new federal designation allowing Carson City to qualify for $631,000 in federal funds for public transit.

The first meeting of the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization begins at 5:45 p.m. today at the Carson City Community Center.

Funding for the organization has come from the Federal Transit Administration beginning in October 2002.

The new organization will be made up of the five members of the city's Regional Transportation Commission, Douglas County Commissioner Kelly Kite and Nevada of the Department of Transportation representative Jeff Fontaine.

The organization will face a handful of decisions at their first meeting, including whether to fund the PRIDE bus service from Carson City to Reno in the future.

After electing a chairperson and vice chairperson, the board will discuss a cooperative agreement for regional transportation planning with the state and an amended agreement with the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission to continue transportation planning for the region.

The organization may also take action on an agreement with the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization to continue planning for the region.

Decreasing service days and hours of the Carson City PRIDE bus service is on the schedule for action. City staff has worked with the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission to determine how much the organization will fund the bus service in the future.

PRIDE, which began as a two-year demonstration project in 2000, takes riders to and from Carson City and Reno. Washoe County and the Nevada Department of Transportation agreed to fund a third year with the understanding that after Carson City is designated a Metropolitan Planning Organization by the governor, future funding would be the responsibility of Washoe County and Carson.

Washoe County transportation officials hope Carson will approve continued funding of the service.

"The real issue is, will Carson City support the continuation of the PRIDE service through next year," said David Jickling, director of Public Transportation with Washoe County.

With the trimming of 40 routes, the service has been slimmed to provide for core riders, Jickling said. The bus would run Monday through Friday, with three round trips in the morning and three in the afternoon and one midday trip.

"We think that's worth continuing," Jickling said. "I'm optimistic our board with continue the funding of that service and am hopeful Carson City will as well. We think it's a vital link between two communities."

With the elimination of some weekday trips and Saturday service, officials estimate a savings of $170,300 annually. The gross operating cost is estimated at $370,000.

Carson City is asked to contribute up to $109,400 annually to cover the portion of the service operated in Carson City and the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission will contribute $165,897 annually for the Washoe County portion of the service, according to staff reports.

Washoe County Regional Transportation Executive Director Greg Krause said eliminating Saturday service will take the PRIDE bus from an average of 6.9 passengers an hour to 8.5 and reduce net costs from $422,000 a year to $273,000.

Under the proposal, the commission is rearranging routes to eliminate two and one-half trips Monday through Friday. The 11:21 a.m. and 1:51 p.m. buses in Carson would be eliminated. A 7:50 a.m. trip from Reno to Carson City on Monday through Friday would be added.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, first meeting

When: 5:45 p.m. today

Where: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.