NASHUA, NH – Nashua Transit System (NTS) will be presenting a proposed fare increase for its CityBus, ADA Paratransit, and Senior Demand Response services at public participation opportunities in January.
The first meeting will be on January 20 from 5:50 to 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. The second will be January 22 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Nashua Public Library. Zoom links are available for both meetings. A date has yet to be determined for a public hearing.
In September, Community Development Director Matt Sullivan and Transit Administrator Camille Correa gave an update on the NTS to the Committee on Infrastructure, presenting the services offered and the challenges they are facing, including increasing operational costs, and an uncertain funding landscape.
52 percent of NTS’s budget revenue comes from federal grants provided by the Federal Transit Administration. 18 percent comes from the city’s general fund as appropriated as part of the annual operating budget; 16 percent from other local matching funds, like the state operating match and contract services; and 14 percent from fare revenue.
In September, the funding landscape was on both the federal and state level. Since then, Sullivan said federal appropriations have since been resolved and that they don’t see any immediate risks to state or federal funding.
However, the fundamental issue still exists: The cost of service continues to outpace grant revenue the service relies on.
At the same time, NTS is receiving requests for more services from the community, such as having longer hours during the day, bringing the service to other areas in the region, and providing more frequent service.
“We’re being pulled in that direction when the reality is that our funding is sort of pulling us in the other direction and that is to reduce service,” Sullivan said.
Modifying the fares – which haven’t been changed since 2012 – is one way NTS can generate more revenue to continue their services.
The proposed increases are as follows.