START Board to take public comment on proposed fare changes, Aug. 20
The START Board will hold an Aug. 20 public hearing to take comment on proposed fare structure changes and service reductions ahead of an expected Oct. 1 rollout.
The START Board is set to open a public hearing on Aug. 20 to take comment on proposed fare structure changes and service reductions, before the board decides what to recommend for an Oct. 1 start date START Board Regular Meeting Agenda Packet.
For folks out on the rural edge who lean on the bus to get to shifts and appointments, the written comments in the packet put a fine point on what riders are worried about: early morning and late night gaps, and fewer commuter trips that already run full. One rider wrote that without early START On Demand hours, “getting to work on time would become more difficult,” and another asked that any afternoon commuter run start “at 5:40 pm or later” so a standard workday still pencils out START Board Regular Meeting Agenda Packet.
Background
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
START Board will hold a public hearing on August 20, 2026, for proposed service reductions and fare increases due to a $1.5M budget shortfall, with public input accepted in person, via Zoom, or by email.
Latest: 2026-08-20 — START Board holds public hearing on proposed service and fare changes, including reductions to commuter, Town Shuttle, and On-Demand services, and fare increases across all routes. Public input accepted in person, via Zoom, or by email.
curated as of 2026-08-19
To address a $1.5M deficit, START proposed service cuts and fare hikes effective Oct 1, 2026, unless Town/County funding is secured. Public hearing set for Aug 20, 2026.
Latest: 2027-07 — Potential for an additional $400,000 budget reduction depending on future developments.
curated as of 2026-08-19
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2026 | START Board Regular Meeting Agenda Packet | packet |