Columbia Transit is looking to cut around $1 million from its budget in fiscal year 2013. By Shanley reynolds (Columbia, Mo.)
Public Works spokesperson Jill Stedem says Columbia transit is looking at changing a few of its bus routes to address under-funding. Stedem says the Black and Gold routes that currently run between the University of Missouri campus and nine apartment complexes are funded mostly by fees paid by the complexes. Staff has presented a proposal to city council to increase the cost for the complexes to keep the busses running during the fall semester.
“No decisions have been made at this time and no contracts have been signed at this time however, we have talked with the apartment complex owners and at this time we have about four apartment complexes that are interested in pursuing the new proposal,” Stedem said.
The proposal would change the cost to about sixty two dollars per bed for the apartment complexes. If each resident rides the bus for one round trip a day, that would average out thirty six cents a ride. That would be an increase from an estimated eighteen cents per ride.
