An empty trolley stop along North Main Avenue sits as a reminder that some days seats are hard to come by, but on others, they are hard to fill. The number of riders on the trolley hits its high times during weekdays, and typically declines over the weekend./Photo by Steve Eginoire

All aboard?

Drop in ridership not reason for proposed transit cuts

by Tracy Chamberlin

Locals just aren’t getting on the bus the way they once did. An anomaly that might turn trend if proposed cuts to the 2014 budget get the go-ahead.

After years on the rise, ridership on Durango’s transit system is down 5 percent for the year. The only months in 2013 to see an uptick were January and April, and both were at just 1 percent.

So when the city manager presents the proposed 2014 budget with cuts to the transit department, it might seem that one has everything to do with the other. But that’s just not the case.

For starters, floating the proposed changes to transit services is about keeping the system working for the long term, not empty seats on the trolley. According to city officials, that’s likely a result of packing in the passengers the day before.

“At some point, we knew it was going to level out or decline,” said Kent Harris, the city’s transit and parking operations manager.

Last year, officials acknowledged that the transit system was reaching capacity. As much as they might have wanted citizens to use the buses and support a multi-modal approach to transportation, the fact remained that the buses were running out of room.

Without enough seats, some passengers had to be left behind. An experience that wouldn’t inspire those potential riders to return for another shot, something Harris said the city suspected might happen.

And, the numbers back that up.

At the end of July, ridership for the transit system was down almost 14,000 people for the year. Just more than 5,000 of those lost were on the Loop and Opportunity buses, but the bulk was lost on the Trolley.

Although the reason behind the decline in ridership from last year to this is really anybody’s guess, city officials agree that the biggest drop, a 14 percent decline in August this year, can be answered with two words: Pro Challenge.

Last year, the city hosted the opening leg of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Aug. 20. Transit services were increased to accommodate the support crews, tourists and locals who came out to attend events throughout the week.

With those kinds of numbers, ridership for this August had nowhere to go but down. Harris said the numbers for transit travelers could level out over the rest of the year, but he suspects they’ll continue to decline slightly.

Whether ridership hits a high or lulls at a low, the city is still looking to make the department’s budget sustainable for the long term. And, changes to the 2014 budget4 might be the first step toward that goal.

Durango’s transit system is primarily funded by federal grants and parking revenue subsidies, which have reached their limit.

Although installation of the new parking meters, already under way, could bring in additional revenue from increased fees and improved management, it’s not monies that would save the situation.

According to Roy Peterson, director of city operations, transit is always a subsidized service. Communities across the country typically don’t bring in enough revenue from transit services to pay for operations. The average cost recovery nationwide is just 15 to 20 percent.

In Durango, the trolley is free of charge and the Buzz and Opportunity buses are not money-makers. The Loop buses do provide some revenue, but not enough to tip the scales.

So as operating costs continue to go up, simply increasing the subsidy from parking won’t solve the problem. During his budget presentation, City Manager Ron LeBlanc said “that’s just not sustainable.”

Since just raising the budget bar isn’t a long-term solution, city officials proposed several changes to the transit system for 2014.

No more Buzz Bus is one of those proposals.

The city has long offered a ride home on Friday and Saturday nights for just $5. The service runs from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., anywhere within the city limits. Although there is a charge, it’s not enough to cover operating costs, making it a candidate for cutbacks.

But both Peterson and Harris see something that could fill the gap left behind if the Buzz Bus goes bye-bye – local businesses. The city is now home to three companies that offer limousine or taxi rides on Friday and Saturday nights.

“We shouldn’t really be trying to compete with the private sector,” Harris added.

Another chunk on the chopping block is weekend service. The trolley, the Loop routes, all the buses could potentially be in park on Saturday and Sunday.

This particular item, however, would likely be the least impactful of all the proposed cuts because the weekend ridership numbers are typically low, according to Peterson.

What he suspects would have a greater impact on residents is implementing a fee for the trolley. For years, the bright red trolley has been a free ride. But in 2014, the city could start charging $1 per ride.

Harris has a hunch that the ridership numbers will drop dramatically as a result.

Two additional proposals include increasing the cost of the monthly bus pass from $20 to $40, and cutting two full-time employees from the transit staff.

Of course, all of these pitches are just that. Ideas tossed out for consideration.

The one thing LeBlanc made clear during his presentation was that just increasing the Transit Department’s subsidy from parking won’t solve the budget woes. ne budget woes.