Daily News article 3/30-07
Nils Peterson
University to contribute $50,000; students expected to chip in $52,000
Staff report
Friday, March 30, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:02:00 PM
Details of a proposal to continue funding for the Wheatland Express
bus service through the 2007-08 school year have been released.
With increases in contributions through University of Idaho parking
revenues, student fees and from the city of Moscow and New Saint
Andrews College, funding for the bus that runs between the University
of Idaho and Washington State University will continue at $265,000 for
the year, just over the $261,000 amount currently provided.
The service historically has been funded through a joint partnership
of the universities, with each providing roughly $100,000 annually.
The money is used as a "soft match" to gain access to enough federal
grant money to operate the Wheatland Express and fund the entire
Moscow Valley Transit system.
A group of stakeholders including representatives from UI, WSU, Moscow
Transportation Commission, Moscow Valley Transit, Wheatland Express,
the National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology and the
city of Moscow have been working toward a solution for the past year
after the UI realized it could no longer fund its share.
As part of the agreement:
n Washington State University will continue to contribute $100,000;
n the University of Idaho will decrease its funding from $100,000 to
$50,000
n UI students will contribute $52,000 through student fees;
n the city of Moscow will increase its contribution from $40,000 to
$60,000;
n Latah County will continue to contribute $1,200; and
n New Saint Andrews College will contribute $1,500.
"It's significant that the students at University of Idaho stepped up
to the plate," Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner said. "The city of
Moscow has also increased funding in the past and in the next budget
process. This shows the mayor's and council's commitment to public
transit and sustainability."
Approvals still are needed before the one-year memorandum can be
finalized. Riedner said the proposal hinges on whether the Moscow City
Council approves the increased public transit funding during its
budget process.
UI Vice President for Finance and Administration Lloyd Mues said the
portion of funding through student fees also needs to be approved by
the Idaho Board of Education at its April meeting.
"Our students ought to rest assured that we're working with them on
it," he said.
A long-term transportation agreement for the communities is expected
to be finalized prior to January 2008. On the part of the UI, Mues
said he plans to establish a reoccurring budget line for inter-
university transportation.
"I think everybody expected us as community leaders to figure it out,
just like I expected us to figure it out, and I am honestly very glad
we started in November of 2005," he said. "Can you imagine what would
have happened if we had started to figure it out now?"
Mues said he is pleased with this temporary solution.
"I am optimistic," he said. "I also feel pretty good about the long-
term solution that will be made sometime between now and the new year."