FY27 Proposed Budget

Recent Accomplishments:

• Completed the second year of the "Fare Free Iowa City" pilot, driving a 68% ridership increase over the pilot period and finishing FY25 with 1.76 million rides. Due to this success, the Fare Free pilot was extended in FY26. • Returned approximately $3 million in forgone fare revenue directly back into the pockets of transit riders during the Fare Free pilot period. • Reached 92% of our long-term 2030 transit ridership goal of 1.91 million annual rides • Improved on-time performance from 73% to 75% while simultaneously managing increased ridership volumes. • Commenced design and facilitated the required federal planning and environmental review for the new transit facility • On-Time performance increased from 73% to 75%. • Expanded the paratransit fleet from 13 to 14 vehicles to meet growing demand and maintain service reliability.

Upcoming Challenges:

• Continue driving transit ridership growth to meet the long-term goal of 1.91 million annual rides by 2030. • Manage sustained funding risk due to the volatile nature of state and federal grant funding and potential property tax changes. • Strategically address and resolve peak-time capacity pressures on key routes to ensure reliable service. • Launch the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the Bus Stop Improvement Program. • Sourcing critical parts and technical support required for the maintenance of the Proterra electric bus fleet, post Chapter 11 bankruptcy. • Mitigating the risk associated with an aging fleet by maintaining an adequate inventory of spare vehicles to provide uninterrupted service. • Focus on the consistent and effective enforcement of the rider code of conduct on all buses to ensure a safe and positive experience for all patrons and operators.

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