Riga and Mārupe dispute funding for bus route 13

Riga’s municipal transport company and Mārupe municipality disagree over how to fund bus route 13, which connects the two municipalities, LSM reported. Mārupe says the proposed costs are too high and that it has not been given a clear breakdown of the losses.

Rīgas satiksme says Riga taxpayers currently cover transport costs for Mārupe residents. Company spokeswoman Baiba Bartaševiča-Feldmane said the company had discussed the issue with Mārupe for a long time and wanted the municipality to contribute to the cost of services operating in its territory.

She cited an agreement with Ropaži municipality, which pays the portion of public transport costs for routes entering its territory that is not covered by the state. Mārupe has not made a contribution, she said.

Mārupe is reviewing its public transport network, including the services offered by Rīgas satiksme. Council chair Aivars Osītis, of Latvijas attīstībai, said route 13 carried very few passengers while the costs Mārupe would be expected to cover were disproportionately high.

Osītis said the municipality was looking for ways to provide the service more efficiently. He also said Mārupe had not received a clear explanation of where the losses arose, including whether they were linked to the route in Mārupe, its residents who use the bus, or the Riga section.