Metro to keep running Mariners shuttles

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given Metro Transit a reprieve to continue providing special shuttle service to Seattle Mariners games.

"The FTA said it was in the public interest to grant an exception for this unique event," said Kevin Desmond, head of Metro.

In April, the FTA announced that Metro must solicit bids from private bus-charter agencies for all sports and cultural events. Only if there were no bids could Metro continue to provide the service.

One company, Starline Transportation, bid on the service for baseball games but was rejected by the Mariners, which called Starline's bid "incomplete."

"They couldn't say whether they had access to coaches to provide the service and weren't able to say they could provide service to disabled riders," said Rebecca Hale, Mariners spokeswoman. "That was not good."

Gladys Gillis, head of Starline, said her company was prepared to take over the service but that the Mariners balked at the price. The Mariners pay Metro a maximum of $150,000 for the season to provide $3 shuttles to the baseball games, while Starline was asking $560,000.

"The taxpayers are subsidizing it," said Gillis. "It's a difficult environment when you're competing against the taxpayer for work."

Under the federal policy, contracting for shuttle service to several events — including Seafair, University of Washington Huskies games, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and Seattle Seahawks games — was to be opened to private bus companies.

It's unclear what effect the exemption for Mariners games will have on the other events.

According to the FTA waiver issued Friday, Metro had first asked for a Mariners exemption when the rules took effect April 30. It was denied, but a 60-day extension was provided to give time for private operators to solicit the business.

Last week, Metro asked for an exemption for the rest of the season. Metro said if the exemption weren't granted, there would be no bus service to Mariners games.

The FTA said the Mariners and Metro tried to find a private charter company to take over the service but were unsuccessful.

The federal agency said it was in the public interest to grant an exemption.

"The FTA will not leave the public without transportation at this late date with little or no notice to them of its unavailability," the FTA said in its ruling.

The agency also pointed out that it won't be happy if an agreement can't be reached with private operators for Seafair and Huskies football games.

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 subsidy.

Metro shuttles to Mariners games had 66,000 boardings last year. The special buses provided 33,000 rides to the Seafair hydroplane races and 53,000 to Seahawks games.

Metro doesn't make or lose money on the shuttles because event sponsors cover the costs through fee payments and passenger fares.

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