MATBUS Coordination Committee - 03.18.2026

The City of Fargo's MATBUS Coordination Committee met on March 18, 2026, to discuss transit-related procurement and budget matters. Key procurement topics included approval of the MINDOT 2027-2030 draft Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) projects, which involve federal funding allocations aligned with capital improvement plans. The committee reviewed the 2025 fiscal reconciliation and 2026 budget status, noting under-budget payroll due to unfilled driver positions and ongoing hiring efforts to fill these vacancies. Discussions also covered operational challenges such as paratransit demand fluctuations and overtime costs. Additionally, the committee explored opportunities to increase advertising revenue through bus wraps, with about 50% of the fleet available for such marketing. A new federal policy restricting Commercial Driver's License (CDL) eligibility for certain immigrant groups was noted, with staff tasked to assess potential impacts on transit operations. The meeting concluded with updates on staff absences and ongoing legislative engagement for transit funding.