New FTA rules may halt Metro's shuttle service

The tens of thousands of people who take Metro shuttles to Huskies football games, Mariners games and city festivals may soon be paying private shuttles to do the work under new charter rules approved by the Federal Transit Administration.

Under the new policy, which took effect May 1, Metro must solicit bids from private bus-charter agencies for all sports and cultural events. Only if no one bids could Metro continue to provide the service.

"Private operators have said it's unfair that taxpayer dollars are being used to provide service at a lower cost," Metro's general manager Kevin Desmond said Friday.

Last year, the University of Washington paid Metro $500,000 to carry 187,000 Huskies fans to seven home games on 180 buses, the largest Metro shuttle effort. Riders rode the buses for free because of the UW subsidy.

Metro carried 66,000 Mariners fans last year, 33,000 people to the Seafair hydroplane races and 53,000 to Seahawks games.

Shuttles also were provided to other destinations such as Bumbershoot, the Folklife Festival, Emerald Downs and the Flower and Garden Show.

Desmond said the new law was approved in January but because of the short notice, Metro successfully petitioned the FTA to continue providing Mariners service until June 30.

Metro stopped providing its Pony Express shuttles to the Emerald Downs racetrack as of last weekend.

Joshua Kavanagh, director of the University of Washington Transportation Department, said the changes would result in some subtle adjustments, but for the most part, Huskies bus service will be "business as usual."

He said the UW will work with private operators to ensure fans can get to games and ride the buses for free. UW has an agreement with the city that the service must be free to riders.

The UW hopes to be able to continue to use Metro buses, asserting it's not a shuttle service, but if UW has to use a private shuttle service that charges more than Metro, it will just have to pay the price, Kavanagh said

Also, he said, the UW would reject any shuttle service, such as a school bus, that didn't provide access for the disabled.

The new rules leave many gray areas, said Metro's Desmond. What if a private company bid on a service, but wanted to charge more than the sports team or event was willing to pay? In that case, Desmond said, Metro could petition the FTA to retain the service.

Without Metro shuttle service, it's unclear what will happen to the Folklife Festival later this month.

Metro doesn't make or lose money on the shuttles because event sponsors cover the costs through a fee and passenger fares. But Metro said its shuttle services generate many new bus riders.

Under the rule, said Desmond, "if a public-transit agency wants to have a special service, it has to solicit from the private sector. If anyone indicates interest, we may not operate the service. We're out of it."

Metro's Mike Beck said 35 firms have registered with the FTA, saying they might be willing to provide local shuttle service. He said 17 of them are from out of state. School-bus companies could also bid for the service.

Gladys Gillis, head of Seattle-based Starline Luxury Coaches, who was on the rules committee for the new law, said her company is eager to bid on many of the shuttle operations, such as the Mariners games and the Flower and Garden Show.

She cheered the new rules. "Agencies supported by tax dollars could drive private businesses out of business," she said. "It's always been illegal for tax-funded agencies to compete with private business, but there's been gray areas. This will give us an opportunity to do the work."

She also said that the 55 buses in her fleet are cheaper to operate than Metro buses because she doesn't pay union wages to her drivers.

"Seattle taxpayers never voted to provide subsidies to the Huskies and Mariners," she said. And while Metro claims the shuttles don't cost the agency anything, she said it does create more wear and tear on the buses.

The new rule worries Metro bus drivers, who have counted on the overtime running all the private shuttles. "It's a concern. There will be less work," said Kenny McCormick, vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587. "But if it's a federal law, we have to abide by it. We have no choice in the matter."

Metro has been operating private shuttles for about 10 years and under the new rules, if Metro violated the new FTA rules, it could lose all its FTA funding, costing the agency millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Metro last Friday sent out an official solicitation for private companies to take over the Mariners shuttle. Firms have two weeks to respond.

Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale said the best case would be to continue with Metro, but is willing to consider other options. "We want service to be able to continue the easiest as possible on fans," she said.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com