Fairbanks MACS Transit system to reduce services, seeks public input

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks North Star Borough’s MACS Transit system is experiencing a shortage of drivers, and is looking to reduce services in the next few months to accommodate these staffing issues.

According to Michelle Denton, Director of Transportation with the Borough, the transit system is down nine drivers, or about 25 percent of its driving staff.

Shortages began during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Denton says she has never seen staff levels this low.

Facing the need to cut or reduce services, the borough is looking for community feedback, holding public meetings to gather residents’ input. “We’re just really looking for the public to tell us, knowing that we may have to make cuts, what they’re looking for or what they’re not looking for. What’s important to them would be things that we’d like to hear, and that way, when we’re making these decisions, we’ll try to do the least amount of cuts we can and have the least effect to all of our lines and keep the most service that we can until we get these staffing levels back up,” Denton said.

Four meetings will be held, two on May 23 at the North Pole Branch Library, and one each on May 24 and 25 at the Big Dipper Ice Arena. More information can be found here.

In addition, the borough is attempting to alleviate a shortage of applicants by offering to train potential drivers to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License.

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