Council Saves Blue Line Shuttle As Final Budget Decisions Are Made

The City Council of Foster City voted last night to go forward with funding the Blue Line shuttle route for another year, despite the concerns of some council members regarding the city's ability to afford public transportation costs.

The future of the shuttle , as the council had targeted potentially cutting its funding in an attempt to deal with the city's $4.8 million structural deficit.

The Blue Line shuttle serves the western portion of Foster City and the Bridgepoint Shopping Center. It is one of two city funded shuttles, and serves primarily seniors and school children, according to resident Kathy Berger.

Mayor Linda Koelling voted with council members Art Kiesel and Pam Frisella in favor of paying for the Blue Line predominately through channeling revenues from the city's Measure M fund at last night's special budget study session held at City Hall.

Voters in San Mateo County passed a $10 vehicle licensing fee in 2010, the proceeds of which were to be dedicated toward funding public transportation improvements for cities such as road and street maintenance, traffic improvement, transit options, among other areas. 

Under the council's approval, the city will allocate $99,000 from the Measure M vehicle licensing fee fund next year toward the Blue Line

The three members of the council in favor of saving the Blue Line also voted to implement a ridership fee for the formerly free shuttle. The cost could be as much as $1 per ticket, or near the $10 range for a monthly pass.

The council agreed to study long term funding options for the line over the course of next year.

The other city shuttle, the Red Line, serves as means of transportation to the Hillsdale Shopping Center, and mimics the route of SamTrans bus 251. Red Line funding was not on the chopping block.

Berger gave a five minute presentation to the council in favor of keeping the Blue Line in circulation. She said it serves half of Foster City as the region's only public transit option, and has a faithful ridership base of residents that rely on the shuttle as their sole means of transportation.

"Public transportation is an essential public service," said Berger, who has spoke to the council advocating for saving the shuttle numerous times since its funding came into question last fall.

But council members Rick Wykoff and Charlie Bronitsky disagreed with Berger, and their fellow council members who voted to fund the shuttle line next year.

"Unfortunately, Foster City isn't gonna be as much fun as it has been, because it won't have the level of funds it has in the past," said Bronitsky.

"It's no fun to hear that people are going to suffer, their lives will be more difficult because of the decisions we have to make. But frankly, we have no choice."

Bronitsky suggested that community members and residents rally together and find an alternative way to provide the same service as the shuttle, without incurring any cost to the city.

Wykoff agreed, but in much more simple terms.

"I don't think the city should be in the transportation business," said Wykoff. "I don't think it's a priority."

He continued that he believed the decision to spend money on the shuttle is irresponsible, as the council attempts to shave $2 million from the city's budget this year and an additional $1.4 million from the subsequent two years.

The council has set a goal of balancing the city's budget by 2012-13, without tapping into the $19.4 million in reserves.

City staff will come back with a finalized resolution to be approved by the council that guarantees the shuttle will have funding through next year.

As well, council members will give their final approval next month on the city's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Council members also voted last night to eliminate 12.5 jobs from the city's budget, 2.5 of which are currently filled.

In other business, Finance Director Steve Toler said that the city's cost increase in water rates may be less than expected, depending on decisions made at a meeting held today by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which controls water rates to many Bay Area communities.

Last month, the council approved adjusting the rate upward from the current level of $1.90 per unit to $2.80 per unit. But based on expectations going into the SFPUC meeting, Toler said the new per-unit cost may be about $2.66.

"It's still going to go up quite a bit, but not as bad as was originally expected," said Toler.

The city will finalize its new water rate before the June 6 public meeting is held that is necessary to implement the price increase.