The Blue Ribbon Commission charged with bringing to Mayor Kip Holden and the Metro Council ideas for addressing Baton Rouge–area transit needs spent most of the its first meeting today outlining the problems with the Capital Area Transit System. Specifically, five categories of problems were identified: inefficiency of the CATS system and its current route design, negative public perception, poor design and amenities, lack of funding, and bilateral governance. “An issue we keep coming back to is governance and organization,” says David Aguillard, chairman of the phase one committee on problem identification. “If you get that right, a lot of the other issues take care of themselves.”
While CATS is charged with operating a transit system, the Metro Council has the final say on routes and fares. Earlier this year, the Metro Council rejected recommendations by CATS to cut weekend service, eliminate routes and raise fares. As a result, CATS is facing a $1.2 million funding gap that threatens to bankrupt the system by October.
Holden expects the commission to bring him options for addressing the parish’s transit challenges by June. With such a short time frame in which to work, the commission—which was formed last month—also discussed setting up meetings with the public and stakeholders beginning later this month, to start gathering input from those who use CATS and those who say they would if it was more efficient. Surveys and social media will also be used to gather public input. The commission plans to provide Holden and the Metro Council three possible courses of action by May 30, with one recommended plan. —Steve Sanoski
