The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, or Wave Transit, is an independent service created in 2004 when the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County merged their bus systems.
The authority receives operating subsidies from the city and county, which along with some state and federal money comprise the bulk of the authority’s funding.
Only about 10-15 percent of Wave’s costs are covered by fares, said Matt Kunic, Wave’s director of planning and development.
Wave’s two other primary funding sources are the Federal Transit Administration and the N.C. Department of Transportation.
UNCW also contributes money, Kunic said.
For the upcoming fiscal year, the Wilmington city staff recommended giving Wave $1,175,000 for operations, said Arthur Cottrill, Wave’s finance director.
New Hanover County’s budget recommendation for the 2010-2011 fiscal year includes $132,939 for Wave.
In the fiscal year that ended June 2009, fares generated $746,511, in revenue. The projected fare revenue for the fiscal year ending this June is $755,000.
Date posted: May 20, 2010
User-contributed question by:
David
It would be much cheaper to give riders a cab voucher. The buses are empty most of the time.
It would certainly be much cheaper to eliminate a service that is funded at least in part by ALL city residents that benefits only a small minority of the city residents……. axe the WAVE and SABLE!
Public transportation is a must for any sizable city. There have been times in the past when my car was in the garage for a day or two when I needed the bus to get to work. Many residents and local students rely primarily on the Wave to conduct their daily business.