START bus service may face cuts as federal money drops
Ahead of Aug. 13, county transportation staff warned START will get less federal funding this year, which could force service cuts or more local General Fund support to keep buses running like prior years.
START bus riders and families who depend on it for work, school, and after-school schedules should pay attention this week: county transportation staff say START "will receive less Federal funds" this year, and the Town and County may have to either cut service or spend more General Fund money to keep service at recent levels, according to a staff Q-and-A included in the Aug. 13 meeting packet staff report.
This is not a new problem, it is the same federal funding cliff START has been warning about since early summer. A July 6 START funding update to the joint Town Council and county commissioners laid out the numbers: federal support drops from about $4.9 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2026 to about $3.4 million for 2027, leaving roughly a $1.5 million gap if local leaders want to avoid service reductions START funding update packet. The packet lists possible cuts staff have been reviewing, including reduced Town Shuttle frequency mid-day, fewer late-evening trips, fewer commuter round trips, and tighter On-Demand hours, along with possible fare increases.
Background
START faces a $1.5M shortfall in FFY 2027 due to reduced federal funds, prompting possible service cuts or increased use of local General Funds. Final decisions are expected by September 2026.
Latest: 2026-10-01 — Start of FFY 2027; reduced federal funding takes effect. Further reductions expected through 2029.
curated as of 2026-08-07
On July 23, 2026, the START Board voted 5-1 to approve $1,118,000 in service and budget cuts as a contingency if Town and County General Fund support for a $1.5 million shortfall was not pursued.
Latest: 2026-10-22 — START Board votes 5-1 to approve initial service and budget cuts totaling $1,118,000 as a contingency if primary funding is not pursued.
curated as of 2026-10-22
On August 20, 2026, START Board's proposed fare hikes and service cuts met strong public opposition, with the Board recommending local funding to avoid immediate changes.
Latest: 2026-08-20 — START Board held public hearing on proposed service and fare changes. Proposed a $2.00 flat fare for local service and $10.00 for commuter routes. Public comments overwhelmingly opposed both fare increases and service reductions. Board recommended covering the funding gap with General Fund dollars, delaying immediate implementation of changes.
curated as of 2026-08-25
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| August 13, 2026 | Teton County Staff Report — Carshare FY27 Partnerships Questions | staff report |
| July 6, 2026 | START Board Federal Funding Update Packet | packet |