Marin County Considers Parting Ways With Golden Gate Transit
SAN RAFAEL (KCBS) - The Marin County Transit District Board of Directors planned to take a crucial vote on the future of its decades-old relationship with Golden Gate Transit Monday, with dozens of jobs and $2 million in estimated annual savings at stake.
Golden Gate Transit has provided bus service for the county for 40 years. But, its current contract was set to expire Dec. 31, 2013. And, transit officials were exploring other, potentially cheaper options - namely, partnering with a private bus operator that is expected to save Marin County $2 million annually.
The budget savings would likely be little conciliation to the estimated 125 employees of the Golden Gate Transit bus system who would lose their jobs if Marin County elects to cut ties.
In what could reasonably be called a last ditch effort to preserve its relationship with the county, Golden Gate Transit has countered with a proposal to trim its services, either eliminating or consolidating some routes and outsourcing some lesser-used routes to an private company, and trimming 30 jobs, thereby shaving an estimated $1 million annually in costs to the county.
KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:
Public comment was being welcomed prior to the vote, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 2501 Civic Center Dr., San Rafael.
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