The Gainesville City Commission reached a tentative agreement Thursday on terms between UF and the Gainesville Regional Transit System after months of negotiations and controversy over proposed funding cuts.
Last year, the university proposed cuts to its $13.7 million contribution to RTS, which represented close to 50% of the system’s funding.
The City of Gainesville and the UF Board of Trustees agreed last year to maintain current funding levels through 2025 while new terms were discussed.
The cuts would have eliminated numerous buses, routes and employees if implemented, cutting off a vital lifeline for students and residents who rely on the system for transportation.
The city already eliminated one bus route this year in an effort to reduce costs. RTS Route 25, which connected the UF commuter lot to Gainesville Regional Airport, was eliminated from service Jan. 3.
“I would like to see more routes restored,” Commissioner Casey Willits said at the Thursday meeting.
The commission unanimously approved an amendment to the Master Services Agreement extending current funding levels until Feb. 28 while the final agreement is completed.
The commission also unanimously approved the terms of a new contract between the city and UF, which would last until June 2027 and prevent any funding cuts or interruptions to service.
The city manager will now work to finalize the agreement.
“I remember when all this was happening, and we were really wondering what the future of RTS looked like,” commissioner Bryan Eastman said. “The fact that we're at a better place is just huge. Pat yourselves on the back and grab a drink tonight.”
Under the proposed term sheet, the university would increase its financial contribution from the current $84 per service hour to a new rate of $88.35. The increase will better allow the city to cover its operational costs.
“We got to a contract that is better than the existing contract. I'm very, very pleased with all the effort that our staff and UF staff and the community put in on this,” Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward said at the meeting.
The new contract also includes provisions for ridership verification technology to be installed on RTS buses before Summer 2025, which will provide the university and city with data used for route improvements.
“From the very beginning, we really were at the table. It has really been a healthy process,” city manager Cynthia Curry said.
The next Gainesville City Commission meeting is Feb. 6.
Contact Daniel Bednar at dbednar@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Danielbednar5.
Daniel Bednar is a first-year political science major and the Criminal Justice reporter for The Alligator. When he's not writing, you can find him scuba diving in the Keys or flying airplanes.
