RIDES leaders described a “perfect storm” of funding losses and higher operating costs during a presentation to the Storm Lake City Council Monday night, requesting a $10,000 city contribution for the coming fiscal year.
The request represents an increase from the $7,500 provided in Fiscal Year 2025 and the $8,000 plus in‑kind support provided in Fiscal Year 2026. RIDES officials say the additional funding is needed to keep Storm Lake’s demand‑response transit service operating five days a week.
Associate Executive Director Cindy Voss told the council that despite public perception, RIDES is not limited to seniors or people with disabilities—it’s open to anyone in Storm Lake.
RIDES provided 815 trips in Storm Lake last fiscal year, with about 90 percent of them being medical appointments. All vehicles are paratransit‑equipped, and Voss said the service is often the only way some residents can reach clinics, therapy, or mental health appointments.
But she said the system is now operating at a deficit—the result of multiple funding hits over several years.
More recently, Voss said Medicaid transportation changes removed the ability for riders to request RIDES directly, shifting assignments to the lowest‑cost provider.
Council members pressed RIDES on outreach, bilingual access, and public awareness.
Councilperson Maggie Martinez said many residents don’t realize RIDES is a public service.
RIDES acknowledged the challenge and said they’ve advertised, distributed flyers, and are trying to hire bilingual staff.
Council members also asked why RIDES no longer transports groups of seniors to community events—a service residents say they miss. Voss said federal rules now classify those trips as charter service, which public transit systems are prohibited from providing.
RIDES leaders emphasized that without increased local support, Storm Lake could see reduced hours or fewer service days.
During a budget worksession last night, council members said Monday night’s RIDES presentation left key questions unanswered—especially around communication, reliability, and public awareness.
Council members also said residents still don’t know they can use RIDES for everyday needs like grocery trips.
Communication barriers were another concern as well as some riders reporting long wait times.
Martinez suggested she might need to test the system herself.
By the end of the worksession, the council leaned toward keeping the city’s contribution at its current level, at least for now, while expecting RIDES to improve outreach and communication before any increase is considered.
