LTD didn’t end up accepting the ASUO’s request to pay for service at last year’s rate in the end. LTD spokesperson and director Andy Vobora said the transit provider came back at the ASUO with a “counterproposal”: $15.54 per student per term, halfway between last year’s rate and the rate for the coming year.
“It was a way to kind of say: ‘We understand your situation. We have a situation too, so let’s meet in the middle,” Vobora said.
The ASUO’s leaders are undecided about their next move on this one, although I’m told they’ll have an answer by tomorrow at the latest, as they’re scheduled to meet with Vobora again then.
One thing that’s not on the table at the moment, ACFC member Hailey Sheldon said, is cutting any part of the late night 79x service, which is something LTD’s Vobora had said might help solve some of the problems with the budget.
If the ASUO does decide to pay LTD at the $15.54 rate, it will require the calling of a new Senate meeting to adjust the ASUO’s contracts budget. That would be about a 19 percent increase in the ASUO’s benchmark, though. That’s more than 7 percent, which is something the student government seems to want to avoid.
I’m glad ACFC’s looking out for the 79x route. It saved my life last weekend (to some extent, not literally). I wonder why LTD keeps looking to cut that route. Is it because it serves students only – and drunken ones at that? It’ll be interesting to watch the ACFC play hardball on this contract. Hope they can negotiate something good…
About LTD, ASUO should throw OSPIGG under the bus (again). Preferably a EMX. That way there is less global warming.