Director Marchant
These are only for public transportation. The School District has a separate contract with First Student which
is a sister company to First Transit but it is an entirely separate set of drivers, management, contract entirely.
This is simply for the transit system.
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you. And just a follow up to that, are we utilizing them 100% of the original contract or have we reduced
our routes?
Director Marchant
That’s a great question. We have certainly reduced our routes in a whole bunch of different ways over the past
6 months to a year. At this point in time, we went from a no fixed route service, only paratransit service. We
rolled out slowly, coming back with the fixed routes. We have done several levels of pilots is what we have
called them. And actually as we speak right now, there’s a public hearing going on for the pilot for our third
mobile pilot system which we would actually like to put in place as the permanent system going back which has
a reduced number of routes, while trying to still most effectively serve our community. So we are actively as
always, looking at the number of bus stops, looking at ridership, who is going where and how we can be most
efficient. So this new service that we plan to roll out permanently if we don’t get negative feedback tonight, is a
new but reduced service which is reducing the overall hours bringing this contract down going forward.
We have also seen a reduction overall in paratransit hours, not necessarily in Nashua but mainly in the service
that we provide on a contract fee basis to both Merrimack and Hudson and also SPTC which would be more of
our larger surrounding region.
Alderwoman Lu
So if | could just follow up to that.
Mayor Donchess
Yes.
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you. So Director Marchant, it sounds like you’re saying that even though they are giving us less, but
you do feel that this is a reasonable increase in what we pay them.
Director Marchant
So we only pay them based on the hours they work. For this rate, this changing, is an hourly rate. So if we
have drivers in the busses driving, we will pay them these variable costs, these hourly rates. If we are not
driving as much, if we are not serving SPTC, Hudson and Merrimack as much, then we will be paying out less
every single month. | do think that these costs are warranted and reasonable. And if service remains low,
then we will expend less than anticipated.
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you. I’m all set.
Mayor Donchess
Anyone else? Alderwoman Klee?
