The mayor told the Terre Haute City Council on Jan. 2 that, beginning this year, riding City of Terre Haute buses will be free "for everyone all the time," describing the policy as a step to grow ridership and thereby increase the city’s share of state and federal transportation funding.

Why it matters: According to the mayor, roughly 95% of transit funding in the city comes from state and federal sources that reward higher ridership. The mayor said the city will use local gaming revenue to cover the remaining roughly 5% of locally derived income so fares are not a barrier for riders.

On road funding and winter prep
The mayor also announced a larger 2025 paving plan and said Terre Haute will see a “substantial increase in road funding” because of an increase in the state Community Crossings grant program under outgoing Governor Eric Holcomb. The mayor described the grant as a matching mechanism: if the city invests $1,500,000 in local roadwork, the state will match that amount. He said the street department completed a liquid pretreatment and will have staff on an expanded winter schedule for a forecasted snow event.

Pathways warming center and bus shelters
The mayor asked the council to publicize volunteer and monetary needs for Pathways, the city’s local warming center, and noted the city provides law-enforcement support to the center. He also said the city is exploring bus-shelter projects but that federal DOT funding for shelters requires environmental review under NEPA and other federal criteria, which complicates local volunteer-constructed shelters.

Council follow-up
Council members asked for the warming center’s street address and confirmation that the city’s published 3-1-1 report had been circulated online; the mayor said the consolidated 3-1-1 summary was prepared by staff (Jesse Tohill) and is available for council review.