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Price County Transportation Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes Date: August 17, 2026 Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: Courthouse County Board Room 101; 126 Cherry St; Phillips, WI 54555 Call to Order: Meeting called to Order at 1:05 p.m. by Dixie Weidman, Committee Vice Chairperson. Roll Call Members Present: Johnathan McArthur, Jason McMillan, Susan Stanke, Nick Trimner, Dixie Weidman Members Excused: Kris Mabie, Sarah Reese-Socha, Pam Snyder, Patricia Stephan Also Present: Pat Daoust, Bay Area Rural Transport (BART) Manager Items for Discussion and Possible Action 1. Public Comment and Communications: None. 2. Meeting Minutes April 6, 2026: Motion McArthur/McMillan to approve the Meeting Minutes April 6, 2026. Motion carried. 3. Committee Membership: The Committee welcomed Susan Stanke as a new member. 4. Funding Sources a. Butternut: Every year the County asks the cities of Phillips and Park Falls for a contribution to the Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) service provided. Both cities contributed $13,000 each in 2025 and were asked to contribute $13,500 each in 2026. The County Administrator and BART Manager recently reached out to Butternut asking for a contribution of $1,500. b. Fifield: Fifield contributed between $1,000 and $1,500 in 2025, and the County will request the same amount in 2026.The County will be contacting the t owns of Eisenstein, Lake and Flambeau to request contributions. A transportation grant through Health and Human Services used to contribute to the BART Bus service. Contributions from municipalities keep the service from costing levy or operational money. There’s a potential for a cut in federal funding in the transportation grant next year proposing a decrease of 24.6% in the amount of $285,877. In 2026, BART is set to receive $1,162,656 in federal funding. In 2021 BART received $876,780 in federal funding. The 24.6% decrease would essentially reduce funding to 2021 amounts, a large amount to make- up for with local funds. The number of services provided may be affected. 5. Route Reports: Discussion on ridership overall, tracking repeat passengers, and advertising. a. Park Falls Transit: Ridership has decreased over the last several months, down approximately 300 for the year through July 2026, compared to July 2025. Compared to July 2024, ridership has decreased by approximately 750 year -to-date through July 2026; however, 2026 ridership is still above 2023 amounts. Year-to-date, the Park Falls route has driven 25,000 miles and approximately 150 miles daily. b. Phillips Transit: Year-to-date, the Phillips route has driven 23,500 miles and approximately 150 miles daily. c. Minocqua Transit: Year-to-date, the Phillips to Minocqua route has driven 57,500 miles and approximately 320 miles daily. 6. Program Reports a. Fares and Hours of Operation: Nothing to add; hours and fares are adequate. b. Budget and Funding: The BART manager sent communication to partners in reference to the proposed federal budget cuts to transportation. The BART board, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Public Transit Association (WHIPA), is drafting a letter requesting the funding cuts don’t happen. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is lobbying against the federal funding cuts. Fuel prices may cause an increase in budget. Windshield repairs have increased. With no rain, road debris is more likely to damage windshields. Remaining ARPA funding which was allocated for buses needs to be used by the end of 2026. Discussion on the estimated cost of alternative fuel flat entry buses and step-up buses. Discussion on travel training advisor services. 7. Next meeting: November 16, 2026 8. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 1:28 p.m. by Dixie Weidman, Committee Vice Chairperson. Respectfully Submitted by Meredith Hueckman, County Clerk