Seward shuttle operator warns rising costs could end free service

Jonas Widerski told the Seward City Council on Monday that the town's free shuttle costs far more to run than the city pays, and that a bid could find it not worth keeping.

Widerski, a co-owner of Seward City Tours, which has run the shuttle for nine years, spoke during citizen comments. The contract is up, he said, and the city holds an option to extend it three more years.

The 2026 season ran May 14 through Sept. 14, with longer hours on cruise ship days.

Widerski said he and his business partner met with the city manager a few weeks ago with "a substantially higher number than what the city is currently paying." The talk made clear, he said, that "the size of the increase will require it to go out for bid, and even then, more importantly, it may be deemed not worth the cost to provide the service."

The company started out paying drivers $18 an hour and now pays $25, still not competitive, he said. A same-age replacement vehicle would now cost double what it did at the start, he said.

"We simply didn't keep our rate up with those costs along the way," Widerski said.

The shuttle gives 2,000 rides on its busiest ship days, and locals rely on it in summer, he said. "The economic impact of not having a shuttle service will be acutely felt down by downtown businesses."

The city's 2023 request for proposals sought transportation for cruise ship passengers. In its 2023 proposal for the city's 2024-2026 seasonal transportation contract, the company listed a total proposed price of $827,280 and anticipated 3,500 bus operating hours; what the city agreed to pay is not in the records reviewed. Widerski did not give his new figure Monday. He said another company might do the work for less.

Only Widerski described the city manager's view. She did not address the shuttle in her report at the meeting.

The council took no action on the shuttle Monday. "We're not asking you to protect our contract, we're asking you to protect the service by understanding what it costs," Widerski said.