Auburn City Council passes comprehensive operational analysis for transit

An acceptance of comprehensive operational analysis for Auburn Transit passed with a unanimous vote during an Auburn City Council meeting inside the council chambers Monday night. But before the action item was passed, councilmembers and Mengil Deane, public works director for the city of Auburn, exchanged information about the plan. Deane spoke to the council about the transit's current times that the public buses. Vice Mayor Sandy Amara noted to Deane about input from the community regarding bus schedules. Amara also mentioned to Deane and people who attended the meeting that she would like to see buses available on weeknights. "Auburn is becoming more bike and pedestrian friendly," Amara said. "So, they want the demand of an on-demand bus more." The vice mayor admitted more buses in the summer for the expansion of buses could be used, although it is now the fall season. But she noted smaller vehicles could be used in the summer. "Then we can have a few runs during the peak of the summer months when there's hundreds of cars that go down to the Confluence," Amara said. "I think that would be something that I would look forward to." Deane stated before Amara's comments that it's not cost effective. There were no cutbacks, but no additional routes were added to the current schedule. Amara asked Deane if summer 2025 could be a possibility. "Absolutely," Deane responded. "It staff's priority. What we're hoping to do is have the community reach out and demonstrate that the need is there, and if that need is, there is nothing to say that we can't bring these programs back. We're always evaluating as we continue our operations." Councilmember Alice Dowdin Calvillo voiced her concerns about the plan. "I've always been supportive of transit, and I'm 100 percent on board with the recommendations that are being presented here today," she said, "but I just want to caution us, and I know that I oftentimes hear that we have to spend money to make money. Right now, the city is in such straits – I don't want to say dire – but we are to some extent that we have to be very conscientious and the dollars that we do spend, ensuring that we are getting people to participate." Auburn Mayor Rachel Radell-Harris discussed with Deane providing transportation north of the city for senior citizens to get to doctor's appointments and the hospital. The mayor said there is a demand for that service in that area. Placer County, Radell-Harris said, does not provide services in that area. The final vote of adapting the plan favored at 4-0.