CATS seeking computerized upgrade

CLOVIS — Adding fixed routes still looks like it's years down the road for the Clovis Area Transit System.

A computerized upgrade, however? Clovis city commissioners seemed to agree it's years overdue.

Commissioners discussed the public bus service over about an hour in a study session Thursday night at the Clovis-Carver Public Library, where Director Mary Lou Kemp gave a 30-year history lesson for CATS and the challenges it faces.

No action was taken, as the session happened after the commission's regular meeting concluded.

The system provides rides within the city limits, and riders are asked to give at least 24 hours notice.

This last fiscal year, Kemp said CATS provided 62,271 trips, and collected $40,106 in fares with operating costs of $774,183 offset by $458,054 received in federal grants. That means the city pays $5.08 per trip and charges fares between 50 and 75 cents - the lower cost associated with an advance purchase of 10 rides.

"Ultimately, we're looking at the cost per passenger," City Manager Justin Howalt said. "I don't mean the fares for passengers, but what the city is paying per passenger."

The study session came as a result of Howalt's initial city manager visit with CATS and Kemp, and he wanted the commission to take an overall look at the operation — with discussion largely focused on adding fixed routes that would either replace or supplement the current demand-based system.

Comparable cities — Hobbs, Carlsbad and Roswell — each have fixed routes with some level of demand-based service, with some cities spending about one-third as much as Clovis does per passenger.

Mayor David Lansford asked if it would be possible to add service for same-day requests, and floated the idea of charging more for those rides.

Lansford said if he were in the position to need public transportation, he'd want a same-day option because, "I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow." Commissioner Tom Martin added, "or what's going to be done to you tomorrow."

Part of the answer lies in the way routes are planned, and Howalt said he was shocked at how antiquated the system is. When customers call in a request, he said, CATS employees plan the next day's routes on paper.

That makes same-day requests difficult to fulfill, Kemp said, unless the customer is either flexible to join an existing route or lucky enough to have a ride that intersects with a planned route.

"We've needed computerization for quite some time," Kemp said.

Commissioners asked how much such software would be, with Martin guessing it wasn't a $100 fix.

Paul Nelson of the city's information technology department said that he and Kemp have had frequent discussions about what systems might work, and the assumption was around $120,000 for a system that would allow for online scheduling that could instantly be relayed to drivers. The drivers, Nelson said, would not have a pre-drawn route, but one where an on-board computer prompts them with their next address.

"The driver," Nelson said, "doesn't know the route changed."

Martin said he saw a UPS documentary about human-created routes versus computer-created. The computer saved 30 minutes in an eight-hour day, and Martin said the documentary called that 30 minutes the difference between UPS profiting and going broke.

"If we could see some efficiencies," Martin said, "the $120,000 would certainly be justified."

Kemp said an issue CATS is experiencing is turnover. The department is at seven operators, down from a budgeted 10, and is losing another driver next week. She said a recent raise from $8.67 to $9.84 per hour might eventually show a benefit, but noted the drivers currently have to pay the $150 cost to get a commercial driver's license.

Commissioner Fidel Madrid asked why the city doesn't pay for the CDL when the city requires it.

Lansford said the driver owns the CDL and can use it for another job. Commissioner Gary Elliott countered that the city pays to train police officers, even though the officers owns the certification.