Bismarck City Commission votes to send back proposed changes to Bis-Man Transit routes

After a nearly three hour long public hearing, the Bismarck City Commission voted to send back a proposal from Bis-Man Transit to change routes. This would give the transit system a chance to hear feedback from riders.

The proposal recommended that Capital Transit Routes be streamlined from 12 routes to six.

The paratransit service would also see cuts with the service no longer running 24/7 or on holidays. Instead a third shift would be added that runs from 7 p.m. to midnight and costs $5. Hours on the weekend would also be cut back.

The changes are meant to offset a nearly half a million loss in federal and state funding. Bis-Man Transit says that expenses are outpacing revenues and they expect a $536,000 shortfall if changes are not made.

A separate grant for funding was applied for but the paperwork was submitted too late.

Many at the meeting voiced concern that the changes would negatively impact the elderly and those with disabilities.

"Many of these services that require frequent visits to the hospital and other care providers, if they can't get there, they will bypass that care and then guess what? They're going to call the ER and show up in an emergency room,"said Chris Jones, representing CHI St. Alexius.

Bis-Man Transit recommends that riders need to be re-certified to determine if they are eligible for paratransit services. Roughly 2,200 people out of 12,000 who are signed up, use paratransit.