The City of Black River Falls will soon be implementing new hours of operation for its
shared-ride taxi service. Starting January 1, 2025, Black River Falls Public Transit will
operate from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
on Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, two taxis will continue to be in service
Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The City started the shared-ride taxi program in 1989, and the City currently contracts
with Abby Vans, Inc. to operate the service. The City provides two ADA-accessible
minivans and pays Abby Vans an hourly rate to provide dispatching, drivers, logistics,
vehicle maintenance, fuel, and all other operating expenses. The service has
traditionally run from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.
In the past, operating deficits were largely subsidized through fare revenues and federal
and state grants, leaving the City’s financial contribution relatively low. However, over
the years, operational expenses and the cost of vehicles have escalated, putting
increasing strain on the City’s budget.
Last year, in an effort to offset these rising costs, the Black River Falls Common Council
approved a significant levy increase, raising the budget for the taxi service from $50,000
to $85,000. Despite this increase, a $60,000 shortfall remains. Due to state-imposed
levy limits and expenditure restrictions, there is no way to cover this gap without reducing funding for other City services or making significant changes to the shared ride
taxi program.
For the past few years, the City Council has closely monitored the situation and
explored potential solutions. Unfortunately, the financial challenges reached a point
where the Council could no longer justify continuing to operate the service at a deficit.
To better understand the options available, the Council commissioned a third-party
feasibility study, funded in part by a state grant that covered 80% of the study’s cost.
The study, conducted by the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, explored
possible strategies for maintaining an affordable and sustainable taxi service.
After careful consideration of the study’s findings and a proposal received from Abby
Vans, Inc., the City Council voted at their November 6, 2024 meeting to approve
changes aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the service. These changes include
reduced operating hours, with service running from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday
through Friday, and 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekends.
These new operating hours will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
The City remains committed to providing accessible transportation options for the
community, and these adjustments are necessary to ensure that the service can
continue to operate in a financially sustainable manner.
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