START Board to weigh Mike Toronto's service reductions

The Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit (START) Board is set Thursday to decide whether to recommend Mike Toronto's contingency service cuts for a $1.5 million federal funding shortfall staff report. The plan would cut one Friday morning and one Friday afternoon bus on both Teton Valley and Star Valley commuter service, reduce Town Shuttle buses after 8 p.m. and at midday, reduce winter Teton Village late-night service, run winter express buses only from 6 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m., cut about five van pool vehicles, shorten On-Demand hours and remove On-Demand stops at Albertsons and the library.

For workers, the warning is plain. Staff says the listed cuts would save about $1.12 million, including $502,225 from On-Demand, but START would still need another $381,143 in reductions or revenue. The report says deeper cuts would likely hit peak service, first trips of the day or last trips at night, exactly the rides people use for opening shifts, dinner shifts and getting home after the tourists are asleep. If the board recommends the plan, public notice would go out August 5, a public hearing would follow August 20 and final Town and County action is tentatively set for August 31.