Columbia city manager proposes cuts to transit services

Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes proposed several cuts to Columbia’s public transportation service as the city struggles with a declining budget.

Matthes shared the proposed cuts in his presentation Friday morning in which he outlined the city’s budget for fiscal year 2019.

“Our bus system continues to experience dire financial condition,” Matthes said.

Matthes suggested raising the paratransit fee from $3 to $4. The fee increase was suggested last year, but didn’t end up happening.

“This year, it’s simply required,” Matthes said.

Columbia’s Disability Commission hasn’t taken a stance on the proposed fee increase, but chairman Chuck Graham said one extra dollar, each way, can quickly add up for people with disabilities, particularly if they are unemployed.

“It seems that they continue to try and cut in places where the lowest income people are affected,” he told ABC 17 News Friday afternoon.

Graham said one of the big issues with the bus system is that routes are always changing.

“That’s going to reduce ridership, which is going to reduce revenue, which is going to make them continue to cut,” Graham said, adding that the city should create permanent routes and put up shelters at bus stops.

Councilman Ian Thomas said transit is often the first item to be cut when budget times are tough. He wants to charge a fee for parking at the Columbia airport and then pump that money back into the bus system.

“Our whole bus system budget is so strapped. We raise so little money for our bus system compared to other similar cities,” Thomas said.

Matthes said Friday all of the proposed transit changes will be discussed in depth at future city council meetings.