The general manager of the Brazos Transit District (BTD) and the Bryan city council discusses multiple topics during the council’s August workshop meeting.
BTD general manager Wendy Weedon’s presentation included an explanation of asking for the first time, local funding to continue the present level of bus service in Bryan and College Station.
As of today (September 4), the Bryan council and Brazos County commission have not adopted fiscal year 2025 budgets. The College Station council included BTD’s funding request as part of their FY 25 budget.
BTD’s request from all three local governments is $334,000 dollars each.
Weedon says that helps make up a loss of over $2 million in federal and state funding because BTD is now considered a large urban operation and is competing with the nation’s largest cities for federal and state money. Weedon told the Bryan council that BTD has unspent money from prior years to make up the remainder of the shortfall for FY 25.
The Bryan council did not give an indication during the workshop discussion of its support of BTD’s funding request.
Council questions of Weedon included getting more bus stop signs, benches, and shelters. Weedon said they have federal money for signs, benches, and shelters. But BTD does not have the money to acquire the right of way.
Weedon also said BTD has received federal money to buy electric-powered trolleys. But there is no money to operate the trolleys, which she estimated is a cost of between $180,000 and $200,000 dollars per trolley per year.
Click below to hear comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting.