Hays County Commissioners Court discusses expanding transportation program in Buda

SAN MARCOS — After learning that there is a need for a bus service for older adults and individuals with disabilities in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, the city of Buda is seeking assistance in expanding its Senior Transportation Program.

At the June 4 meeting, the Hays County Commissioners Court considered a resolution to provide financial support in FY25 to the city of Buda related to the expansion of a transportation program for older adults or individuals with disabilities.

The city currently has the Seniors Taking A Ride (S.T.A.R.) Transportation Bus, which is ADA accessible and seats up to 11 riders; it can seat two wheelchair passengers and has a wheelchair lift for boarding, according to the city’s website. The bus was paid for with a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant, specifically for the city’s senior transportation service.

The S.T.A.R. Transportation Program currently provides the following services:

• Transportation for independent, ambulatory seniors

• Service from rider’s curbside to their destination

• Free for seniors (individuals 60 years or older) residing within Buda city limits and individuals with disabilities residing within Buda city limits

• Service area includes Buda, Kyle and San Marcos

• Priority destinations for non-emergency/routine medical appointments

• Other destinations include grocery store, pharmacy, etc.

Buda's City Clerk Alicia Ramirez said that the program has grown over the years from serving eight individuals per month to about 200. While the city has seen more individuals using the program, Ramirez said that there is an increased need for bus service in the ETJ.

“We do get a lot of calls from the ETJ to serve the ETJ, mainly east Buda. For Buda, it encompasses Sunfield, Coves of Cimmaron, Leisurewoods and a small portion off Old Black Colony Road. There are some others, but those are the main ones that we deal with,” Ramirez said. “The ones that we get the most requests [are] from the Sunfield area and also Huntington, which is senior apartment living. They don’t understand that where the road is, they live on that road and they don’t understand that they are on the other side of the city limits. They say, ‘Why can’t we ride that bus? We need this service, too.’”

The resolution would expand the services to the ETJ and form a partnership with Hays County that would “help the seniors and those with disabilities tremendously meet their transportation needs,” Ramirez said.

Commissioner Michelle Cohen said that they have been struggling to find ways to extend transportation services to rural areas in all parts of the county.

“I get phone calls every week about transportation and what services are available,” Cohen said. “Unfortunately, a lot of the services are just within the city limits if you are a resident there. I fully support the county helping out with the budget for this.”

Echoing Cohen’s point, commissioner Walt Smith said the county has also received calls from individuals who believe that they are residents of the city of Buda — when they are actually in the ETJ — and they don’t understand why they are unable to use these types of services, such as the Capital Area Rural Transportation System.

Smith added that he believes the resolution needs to be pursuant to the Civil Division office to draft a contract and bring forward what it would look like in the county’s budget process.

No action was taken at the meeting. However, contractual conversations will be moving forward through the county’s Civil Division and when a contract is ready, it will be brought back to the commissioners court, said Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra.

To listen to the full discussion, visit www.hayscountytx.com/county-commissioners.