Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

The head of the nonprofit that manages Bozeman's Streamline bus service calls into question figures released in a new report by the Montana Policy institute. Human Resource and Development Council CEO, Jeff Rupp, calls the numbers "deeply flawed."

We told showed you the report last week, which finds public transportation may not be an efficient use of taxpayer funds in our rural state.

The report released Thursday finds taxpayers pay 72 cents per mile with the Streamline, whereas those driving cars average 23 cents per mile in Montana.

"The study says it costs less to run a passenger vehicle than a bus. Well of course it does,"Rupp said. "I don't think that's going to surprise anybody...but a smaller car or light truck will not move 40 people." Rupp also has problems with the 23 cent figure, saying both the IRS and AAA say the figure is closer to 50 cents per mile.

Montana Policy Institute CEO, Carl Graham, stands by the study .