Transit system services extended through July 31

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Charles City will be able to extend service of the city transit system, it was announced late Wednesday afternoon.

City Administrator Steve Diers said that the city bus system will keep running through July 31 with its current provider. A contract for the service was set to run out by June 30, which could have resulted in a lack of service for residents of Charles City.

Diers said he anticipates someone new providing the service by Aug. 1.

Diers said that service next week will only be offered Monday, July 2, because of the Fourth of July holiday week. The transit system will then offer its normal service weekdays from July 9-31.

The transit system was in jeopardy of shutting down for a time if a contract extension or new contract was not reached by the end of this month. North Iowa Area Council of Governments is currently partnered with Charles City to run the service.

Ridership has dipped dramatically in recent years after rides per year reached well over 60,000 just three or four years ago. That number fell to 47,000 in 2016 and just 26,000 last year. Diers stated that transit system currently operates at a $200,000 shortfall a year.