Back on track
Severe winter weather temporarily locks up bus company’s scheduled routes
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 10:55 AM PST
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| Passengers stand outside the Greyhound Bus Depot in Ontario Monday. These are the first scheduled buses into Ontario since last week, as Greyhound officials halted traffic between Salt Lake City and the Pacific Northwest because of road conditions. |
ONTARIO — Stormy winter weather last week compelled Greyhound to shut down scheduled routes between Portland and Salt Lake City but the delay proved short judging by the number of people gathered Monday outside the local bus service stop, waiting for their opportunity to hop a ride.
“We have resumed service between Portland and Salt Lake,” Greyhound spokesman Eric Wesley said Monday.
Weather was the key factor in cancellations.
“It would be because of weather conditions,” he said.
Wesley said that many passengers were caught at terminals where buses were stopped until service resumed.
Buses into Ontario Monday were running about an hour behind schedule.
Because some passengers acquire rides by purchasing walk-up tickets, Wesley said the company would not know how many people traveled by Greyhound during the holidays until some time this year. Last year the figure was about 1.2 million passengers, he said.
“We would expect to see about the same number this year,” he said.
Normally, there are two westbound schedules — one going to Portland and one going to Seattle and two eastbound schedules going to Denver.
Also, picking up passengers Monday was the Porter Stage Lines bus, which takes riders west on U.S. Highway 20 to such points as Bend, Eugene and Coos Bay. The service connects with other bus lines along the way.
Porter Stage Lines also did not have any buses in or out of its eastern terminus of its Amtrak Thru Bus route, Bud Finner, PSL ticket agent in Coos Bay, said. According to forecasts provided by the National Weather Service, it would be clear through New Year’s, with the next rain or snow expected across the Blue Mountains beginning today. It was expected to be mostly sunny in the lower Treasure Valley, at least today, with chances of snow or rain through the end of the week. Mel Coulter, communications specialist with the Idaho Transportation Department, said Monday roads in the Treasure Valley were clear and in good condition. “Outside of the Treasure Valley, road conditions are only fair,” he said, meaning travelers headed up north toward Lewiston will likely get into snow. On Interstate 84, going east, he said motorists could expect icy spots and stiff winds which are causing drifting snow.
