Changes are coming for Vista Transit riders. We want to be sure that you know about these changes, why there has to be a change, and how it will impact your commute.

In an effort to balance the State budget, Arizona State Legislators have taken away Local Transportation Assistance Funding (LTAF). For Sierra Vista this means a loss of $300,000 that was used to fund our share of the annual transit grant to serve our community. The transit system is grant based with the Federal Government providing 60% of the grant and the City providing 40% of the grant.

The loss of LTAF appears to be permanent. For the next transit grant year beginning October 1, 2010, the Sierra Vista City Manager has allocated $200,000 to come from the City’s general fund, to help maintain Vista Transit operations. The remaining $100,000 of funding needed to operate the system will come from a planned increase in fares and service reductions.

• Rider fare is scheduled to increase by 25˘ to $1.25 for regular riders and $0.75 for discounted (senior, student, and disabled) riders. This increase is included in the five year transit master plan that was in-place before the loss of state LTAF funds)

• Transit will discontinue the pilot program of Saturday service on Loops 1, 3, and 5

• All transit service will stop at 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (only affects route 6)

• No service on Sundays (only affects route 6)

The Transportation Advisory Committee has approved these recommendations, and has agreed to continued door-to-door service at a charge of $2.00 per pick-up for disabled persons within the Sierra Vista city limits.

These changes have the least impact on riders that use Vista Transit for commuting to work and medical appointments; affecting mostly those persons traveling after normal business hours for social and entertainment purposes.