The background
The New Braunfels Urban Transit District, established in February and recognized by the Federal Transit Administration, allows the city to receive state and federal grant funds for transit operations, said Garry Ford, director of transportation capital improvements for the city, at an Aug. 26 city council meeting.
Transit operations in New Braunfels are guided by the city's Transit Development Plan, Ford said.
Early in August, the city approved to move forward with the microtransit service named "Ride the Rio!," scheduled to begin in early 2025, according to previous reporting.
The details
The city will maintain its on demand-response transit service with Alamo Area Council of Governments/Alamo Regional Transit under the current interlocal agreement through September, Ford said.
As the city shifts to the new microtransit service, a new agreement will then be established to continue the service from October into 2025.
The on-demand microtransit service timeline, according to Ford:
- October: The city will issue a request for proposals for a turnkey microtransit service, which involves a comprehensive, ready-to-operate solution provided by a contractor.
- November/December: The contract for the service is expected to be awarded.
- March 2025: The new microtransit service is scheduled to begin, pending approval from the federal transit administration.
- The current demand-response service costs nearly $980,000.
- Half of this is funded by the federal transit administration Ford said, and the other half is covered by local funds, including a $70,000 contribution from Comal County.
- The new agreement will be funded entirely by local funds, with a maximum cost of $255,000 per quarter, Ford said.
- The general fund contribution remains the same and the new agreement includes additional reporting requirements.
