Despite heavy subsidies from state and federal grants – and having a much more fiscally efficient operation than other jurisdictions in the state – Ocean City’s transportation system will still need a $1.85 million boost from the town’s general fund for fiscal year 2014, the City Council heard this week.
The system’s overall operating budget, not including capital purchases and improvements, is projected at $5,546,343, according to city Public Works Director Hal Adkins, who conducted the budget hearing this week as a requirement of the Maryland Transit Authority. The MTA largely funds and oversees the city’s public transit structure via federal mandate.
Adkins pointed out, however, that Ocean City is also projected to bring in $2,443,618 in fare revenue, meaning that ridership pays for 46 percent of the operation. This ratio, known as the farebox recovery ratio, is generally seen as a gauge of how effective a public transportation system is.
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1 comment:
It could be even better if the Town stopped giving away free bus rides. When you see how freely the kids throw money away during June, you gotta wonder why someone thinks they would not pay $3 for an all day bus pass. Making matters worse, the graduates give their free ride bracelets to the foreign workers and then just get another bracelet. The rest of the season brings convention center attendees (including Government employees) who get free but passes. How does Transportation make up for the shortfall? They do it by foolishly cutting staffing hours of the mechanics and drivers. Except for the newest of buses, many of the fleet look like rust buckets and one bus was lost to fire last year because a leaking fuel line went undetected. Seriously, look closely at the Town garbage trucks then at the buses.
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