GVT Goes Fare Free

By P.M. Fadden
Associate Editor

The fiscal restructure tactically alters the former 2007/’08-initiated Valley Transit grant equation, simultaneously increasing current GVT received Federal 5311 Rural Transit Grant monies while passing savings to riders.

GVT board representatives Dawn Johnson and Sam Marshall met with the Glacier City Gazette to detail changes to, and future plans for, valley public transit.

How long has free fare operation been a consideration of GVT?
DJ: “This has really all come from our recent June audit, so things are happening pretty fast. We’d come from the presumption that reporting ridership figures meant also applying fares for riders but, after finally asking the direct question, we discovered that this was not the case.”
SM: “Also, there’s a clear history of fare free public transit at other resort areas and, if you think about it, it just works.”

What, if any, service changes can riders expect?
DJ: “There’ll be no negative changes in GVT services. Ridership numbers will still be collected, but what were before fares will now be the ‘local match’ funds.”
SM: “These ‘local match’ funds will be in the form of public or business sector donations to GVT, and, if anything, the restructure will allow for improvements to be made upon bus services like adding new routes, for example.”

Which were the main discussion points among GVT board with regard to fare-less switch?
DJ: “GVT has actually been losing between forty and seventy thousand dollars annually. This is a staggering figure and a huge obstacle for us. The basic math of it is; collected fares cannot compete with day-to-day operational costs.”
SM: “By this restructure GVT hopes to immediately halve that figure and eventually break even. If we then get the community behind us with funds we’d be flush—even more than flush.”

Describe the application process to receive federal funding.
DJ: “It’s an annual, early December re-application that includes the previous year’s actuals, current year budgeting and coming year’s prospectus. It’s a ton of questions, and we, of course, also provide bus mileage, operational hours and proof of GVT’s non-profit status.”

So, how does are grant recipients selected? From where are the federal monies generated?
DJ: “Recently, it’s been only previous grant recipients who continue to receive Federal funds, so GVT is fortunate to be in the position it is. And those monies GVT receives are generated from Federal tax collection.”
SM: “Funds are sent from the Federal Transit Authority to the state and the state divides payments from there. In this regard, our rider-to-funds ratio works heavily in GVT’s favor to receive good funding.”

By what schedule are these funds dispersed?
DJ: “GVT bills all expenses on a monthly basis with all accounts receivable to be met by month’s end.”

Which are key elements to GVT sustainment of fare free operation?
DJ: “Possible GBOS adoption of GVT is something which we see to have great positive potential, but we are also looking into a number of other areas, topics to be further explored at upcoming September 19th GBOS meeting.”
SM: “And, of course, future stability can definitely be helped by more donations. A strong GVT means better public transit, better quality of community life to families and contribution to a environmental health—not to mention the reduction of drunk driving statistics.”

How does fund restructuring equate to betterment of GVT community service?
DJ: “These steps will ensure that GVT can independently continue to operate.”
SM: “At the end of the day, it’s a move towards autonomy. And it seems that this is what GVT riders want.”

So, savings to the rider aside, how does fare free riding affect valley life?
DJ: “A free community service hopefully makes receiving donations all the easier which is win-win for everyone.”
SM: “It’s one less worry each day. Bar time decisions are made that much easier, and it just feels good to offer rides without the fares.”

Does GVT experience a loyal ridership base? And, if so, discuss the importance placed by GVT on forming a work-a-day relationship with the community it transports.
DJ: “It seems as though local, repeat ridership is progressively increasing.”
SM: “We see the same people riding every day. They’re headed to and from work, to the store, it’s how our community gets around. And GVT is proud to be a part of that.”

Why is the Girdwood valley in particular an ideal location for implementation of a fare free bus service?
DJ: “GVT sees itself as a helpful service to the valley work force and its guests.”
SM: “Let’s not forget, the life blood of this town is tourism and many of those people don’t have vehicles.”

How does GVT look to grow into that future? i.e. – extended services/routes to additional sites such as Crow Creek Mine?
SM: “Absolutely continue to integrate with the community and riders. I’d like to see local arts involved as well. We were thinking to wrap our buses, as other transport services do, in Alaskan themed imagery like bears, salmon or even local flowers. Another thing I’d like to see would be beautifully carved bus stops for our riders and community’s public to enjoy. And as always, I’d like to see more growth with technology. An App. allowing for public access to bus tracking would be quick, convenient and do away with the need for phone calls. But most immediately, GVT is implementing a September 20th shift from ‘fixed’ route to ‘flex’ route travel meaning, time and weather dependent, GVT can drop riders to any spot up to a half mile from the current circuit.”
SM: “The great thing about GVT is that we touch the lives of a lot of people, and that’s something we wish to continue to do well.”