Lincoln rejects Pronto’s request to use StarTran buses for Husker shuttles

The City of Lincoln declined Pronto’s bid to lease StarTran buses and operators for Nebraska game-day shuttle service, prompting Pronto to cut Economy fares by 20% for the Oct. 31 Nebraska-Washington game. The dispute underscores limits on public transit assets during a local transportation shortage and leaves private operators to cover the gap.

Why it matters: - Lincoln riders and Husker fans are facing a tighter transportation market for game-day service, with Pronto saying public buses could help fill the shortfall. - The dispute also raises a public-policy question about when taxpayer-funded transit assets should be used for private special-event service. - Pronto’s fare reduction applies only to the Oct. 31 game and is funded by the company, not by public subsidy.

What happened: - The City of Lincoln declined Pronto Corporation’s request to lease StarTran buses and operators for Nebraska Huskers game-day shuttle service. - Pronto said it reduced Economy fares by 20% for the Oct. 31 Nebraska-Washington game after the city said no. - Riders who already booked Economy seats will receive refunds for the fare difference by Oct. 31. - Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird wrote in an Oct. 23 letter that providing the buses was not in “the best interests of Star Tran ridership nor Lincoln taxpayers.”

The details: - Pronto cut inbound Economy fares from $10 to $8, immediate return fares from $20 to $16, and later return fares from $15 to $12. - Premium motorcoach fares are unchanged. - The fare reduction applies only to the Oct. 31 game. - Pronto said StarTran has issued federal charter notices for more than 15 years, allowing private operators to provide special-event shuttle service. - Pronto responded to this year’s notice and took over the service after the city announced it on Aug. 26. - After operating the first five Husker home games, Pronto said it faced an acute shortage of buses and motorcoaches in the Lincoln market. - Pronto said it brought vehicles in from other cities, used school bus operators and added guaranteed seating, scheduled departures and marshalled boarding. - On Oct. 21, Pronto invited the Mayor and City Council to work with the company to expand private transportation capacity in Lincoln. - Pronto also asked the city to supplement the service with available StarTran buses and operators at the city’s fully allocated rate. - The mayor declined on Oct. 23, citing an hourly rate of $118 that Pronto said it did not propose. - Pronto said it replied on Oct. 25 and asked for an answer by Oct. 27, but received no response from the mayor’s office or the City Council. - Service for Nebraska vs. Washington on Saturday, Oct. 31 runs from Lincoln North Star High School, SouthPointe Pavilions and Gateway Mall, with a round trip from Crossroads Mall in Omaha. - Kickoff is 7:00 PM. - Seats are available at iPronto.com/nebraska-huskers.

Between the lines: - Pronto is framing the issue as a mismatch between available public assets and a private-sector shortage in the local transportation market. - The city is drawing a line around StarTran equipment use, signaling a preference to protect public transit capacity for regular riders. - Pronto’s remarks suggest the company sees the shortage as a broader market problem, not just a one-game logistics issue.

What’s next: - Pronto said the Oct. 31 fare cuts are its immediate response while it continues to push for more private transportation capacity in Lincoln. - The city and Pronto could still revisit how special-event transit is staffed if the transportation shortage continues. - The company said the City’s Aug. 26 announcement, Pronto’s Oct. 21 release and open letter, Nebraska Public Media coverage, the mayor’s Oct. 23 letter and Pronto’s Oct. 25 response are published in full in the Pronto Newsroom.

The bottom line: - Lincoln’s refusal to lease StarTran buses leaves Pronto to manage Husker shuttle demand without public transit equipment, at least for the Oct. 31 game.