Cedar Rapids eyes possibility of regional transit authority

CEDAR RAPIDS - Would the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area, namely those who operate and ride public buses, benefit from a regional transit authority?

That's a question local transit officials seek to answer as they explore the feasibility of handing over the management and governance of Cedar Rapids Transit's fixed-route bus services from the city to a taxing authority made up of local representatives.

'The trick really is, does this make sense for us as a region?” said Bill Micheel, assistant director of community development with the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization. 'That's what's really driving this whole thing, are there efficiencies to be gained? ... Does this allow us to offer a higher level of service or are we already there?”

A REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

A 2016 Corridor Metropolitan Study, which led to the first major restructuring of Cedar Rapids Transit bus routes in 15 years, first recommended exploring the creation of a regional transit authority.

The first phase, which Micheel said is underway, includes researching what such an authority might look like, including how it would function and what the governing and financial structures would entail.

Micheel said the first phase, which cost about $25,000, could be completed early next year.

Phase 2 would further delve into financing and vehicle ownership, while the final phase would be to draft the legal document to create the regional transit authority.

The final two phases are estimated to cost about $55,000.

Per Iowa Code, only counties with populations in excess of 175,000 may create a regional transit district. With more than 216,000 residents, Linn County is the only county in the state, outside of Polk, large enough to create such a district.

It was more than a decade ago that Polk County and Des Moines area entities created Iowa's first and only regional authority known as Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, or DART.

Currently, DART is managed by a 19-member commission, which includes representatives from 18 communities and Polk County.

Amanda Wanke, chief external affairs officer with DART, said some of the biggest benefits to a regional transit authority include the ability to have a more regional focus, rather than piecemeal multiple city bus services together.

'As we know, people are traveling throughout the various parts of the greater Des Moines region. They're often working in one city, living in another and shopping in another, so needing to look at transit on a systemwide, regionwide approach is one of the main benefits of looking at a regional transit authority,” Wanke said.

POTENTIAL TRANSITION

More than 90 percent of Cedar Rapids Transit services are in Cedar Rapids, but routes do extend into Marion and Hiawatha, which share a portion of the service's costs.

While the 2016 study found that Cedar Rapids was subsidizing about $100,000 and $73,000 for transit services to Hiawatha and Marion, respectively, Brad DeBrower, Cedar Rapids transit manager, said those cities have been paying more.

In Fiscal Year 2018, Marion and Hiawatha are paying about $320,000 and $120,000, respectively, into Cedar Rapids Transit's roughly $10 million budget.

DeBrower said he anticipates the two cities will cover the entire cost of their services within a few years.

'Both those communities have made pretty big strides to close that gap,” he said.

The 2016 study states the creation of a regional transit authority - that would see the transfer of ownership of all property, such as buses, from the city to the newly created entity - could help expand the region's bus service area. Nearby cities could join the regional transit district and support it through their community's respective transit levy.

DeBrower said Cedar Rapids Transit is staying neutral on whether or not a regional transit authority would be the best option for local transit, but did say the creation of a regional taxing entity could allow for more services located where they're most needed, rather than based on the amount of money cities contribute.

'The region continues to grow and our passengers ... they don't look at corporate boundaries,” DeBrower said. 'As we work things through with Marion and Hiawatha, the level of service they receive is based on the level of service they are willing to pay for. I think one of the positives of a (regional transit authority) is you eliminate that.”

In addition, the study notes a regional transit authority also could take over governance for Linn County LIFTS, the county's paratransit service.

The possible benefits of placing local transit services under a regional model include a greater focus on customer service, having the ability to tax and bond and potentially expanded service, the study states.

At the same time, a regional transit authority does mean the city relinquishes direct control of transit operations and transit levies are capped at 95 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value, which could limit funding.

JOHNSON COUNTY

While Cedar Rapids metropolitan planning officials delve into the possibility of a regional transit authority, those to the south in Johnson County also could begin similar efforts.

'It's a discussion I think we need to have, I would like to see us go as far as working with a consultant as well, but that's up to the (Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County board) to decide,” said Brad Neumann, assistant planner with MPOJC.

Newmann said forming a regional transit authority in Johnson County would require a change in Iowa code to allow counties that don't meet the current population threshold to take part. Johnson County has fewer than 150,000 people, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data.

Neumann said another challenge in Johnson County is the existence of multiple bus services, including Iowa City, Coralville and the University of Iowa's Cambus.

Coordination on routes and schedules have allowed those three bus services to work together, but Neumann said a combined offering still could provide a more seamless service.

'There are some efficiencies there, I don't think anybody denies that. I think we just really don't know what those answers are yet,” he said.

If the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization pursues a Linn County Regional Transit Authority, there's potential of eventually expanding it to include Johnson County - namely the Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty region, the 2016 study states.

Such a collaboration could lead to an express bus service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, according to the study.

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com