The Midland City Council has approved its annual funding agreement to continue public transportation services in the city. The agreement, made with the Midland-Odessa Urban Transit District (MOUTD), ensures that EZ Rider buses will keep operating in both Midland and Odessa.
This year’s contribution from the City of Midland will be $820,000, matching the amount provided by Odessa. The funding represents a 12% increase over last fiscal year due to higher inflation-related costs. These costs include rising fuel prices and temporary increases in driver wages aimed at keeping pay competitive with the Midland Independent School District.
According to MOUTD officials, this is the first significant rise since 2021, as requested amounts from both cities had remained unchanged through 2024. The FY 2026 budget for MOUTD also anticipates receiving more than $5.4 million in state and federal grants to support ongoing operations.
From January through August of this year, monthly ridership on EZ Rider buses in Midland averaged 9,638 passengers.