While a meeting of the minds will occur before then, potentially producing a short-term solution that could keep bus service at current levels, two routes that remain on the chopping block this fall are the topics of two public hearings to be held by Wave Transit this Wednesday and Thursday.
The hearings—scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday at Wave’s Forden Station; the latter during this month’s regular meeting of the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority—are intended to receive public feedback on the planned elimination of Route 207, which serves the northern area of New Hanover County, and Routes 107 and 301 that together serve College Road, Monkey Junction and Pleasure Island.
The hearings will be held in the boardroom at Forden Station, which is located at 505 Cando St. in Wilmington. A copy of the proposed eliminations can be viewed on Wave’s website via this link.
As plans stand today, the routes would be eliminated Sept. 30. But a meeting scheduled Sept. 12 between Wave officials and New Hanover County commissioners could see some arrangement to continue one or both of those routes in the short term, while the two groups look to also define long-term funding expectations.
Wave has repeatedly asked for more funding from the county, which contends it provides enough for para-transit service—those required for access to certain county services—and for bus routes that serve unincorporated areas of the county, meaning areas beyond the city limits of Wilmington.
Earlier this year, commissioners granted a short-term loan totaling $133,333 for Wave to help offset a cash-flow deficit. But the county reduced its level of annual funding contribution for Wave in the current fiscal-year budget, lowering that amount from $250,000 to $140,000—a reduction that took Wave officials by surprise.
Wave has since asked for a waiver on repayment of that short-term loan, as officials have said that amount would allow the two bus routes to continue for the rest of this fiscal year. But commissioners have said they want to make clear the authority’s expectations for ongoing funding from the county, and the city, before agreeing to a loan forgiveness deal.
Related story: County delays decision on Wave; funding structure to be revisited
That meeting will be held before commissioners’ scheduled agenda briefing session at 4 p.m. Sept. 12. An exact meeting time has yet to be announced.
For those unable to attend the hearings, comments can be submitted by phone by calling 343-0106 or by mail to Wave Transit, P.O. Box 12630, Wilmington, NC, 28405. Comments can also be submitted via email to comments@wavetransit.com.
Previous stories:
Wave waiver tops agenda for county commission Monday
Waiver could be coming to Wave; county to decide loan forgiveness deal
Wave Transit looking at cutting two routes in light of reduced county funding
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or jonathan.s@portcitydaily.com. On Twitter: @jrspiers
