Augusta Transit proposes route cuts and Saturday elimination to save $884,000 amid falling ridership

Augusta Transit staff told the commission that ridership has declined significantly over recent years and proposed operational cuts that would save roughly $884,000 for 2026.

Transit Director Daugherty explained that a steep ridership decline followed changes in service frequency years earlier. "The reason we have a reduction in ridership is ... when we went to this 40 minute, headway, people waiting 40 minutes, that was a reduction in ridership," Daugherty said, describing how longer waits and route changes discouraged riders.

The transit proposal sent to finance would eliminate one administrative assistant, reduce two‑bus service to one bus on routes 5 (Washington Road), 6 (Gordon Highway) and 7 (Augusta Mall), and discontinue Saturday service. Staff said those three routes currently average daily boardings of about 228, 262 and 276 riders respectively and that the recommended changes are intended to preserve service coverage while cutting operating costs.

Administrators noted that the electric buses on the fleet were purchased largely with federal grants and not from the local operating budget; operating and charging costs for electric buses were raised as a future concern. Commissioners asked staff to provide detailed operating-cost breakdowns, including gasoline, uniforms, vehicle and software costs associated with adding officers or equipment in other departments, and to return with refined estimates on how service reductions would affect riders who transfer between buses.

Ending: Staff said transit's total annual budget, including grants, is roughly $20 million and that general fund support for transit is about $2 million; commissioners asked for more detailed ridership and operating data ahead of the Nov. 6 work session.