Bus system gets good review

Transit regulators' report says city program meets federal requirements

The city’s bus system got a clean bill of health Thursday from federal transit regulators in town for a two-day triennial review.

The two federal auditors wouldn’t make themselves available to comment about their findings, but city officials said after a Thursday morning interview that things had gone well.

“It was a good report,” City Manager Mike Wildgen said. “With some minor exceptions, we got gold stars.”

The city receives $890,000 a year from the federal government to operate the T, which is the official name of the city’s bus system. In turn, the Federal Transit Administration comes to town every three years to ensure the money is well-spent.

“It’s a major source of income for the transit system,” Wildgen said of the federal funds.

The first city buses started rolling only 1 1/2 years ago, in December 2000, but the three-year review dates from when the federal money was granted and the city started getting the transit system ready.

The audit did not look at the number of riders on the bus system or what people think of it.

“They’re looking at rules and regulations, not our service provisions,” said Karin Rexroad, the city’s transit administrator.

The regulators examined whether the city met federal requirements in a range of areas, including compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Buy America Act and other record-keeping areas.

In the end, Wildgen said, the regulators found four minor paperwork problems. A form describing the city’s transit lobbying efforts had not been filled out; regulators said hard copies were needed for some maintenance records.

“Basically, they were pleased with what we’re doing,” Rexroad said. “We’re following the rules and regulations.”