New bus service up, but ridership still lags
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 11:41 AM PDT
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| Getting on the Snake River Transit bus for the Ontario loop were Saniqua, Taquanda and Tyrone (no last names given) Monday afternoon. Driver Jamie Spiller said he sees ridership increasing since the service started Sept. 15. |
ONTARIO — Operations for The Snake River Transit system are smooth so far, but one key challenge revolves around an effort to get people on the buses, according to one bus driver.
Buses are running mostly empty as they complete their routes through Ontario.
Snake River Transit is a joint project of the Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services and Treasure Valley Transit, a non-profit transportation agency headquartered in Nampa and funded by state and local resources.
“The transit system is going very well,” Loni Debban, executive director of the Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services, said. “Not everyone knows about it yet.”
“It’s finally picking up a little,” Jamie Spiller, one of the two afternoon-shift drivers, said Monday about ridership. “It depends on the time of day,” he said, when asked about ridership, adding he thought afternoon had the heaviest ridership.
The transit service started Sept. 15, and rides will continue to be free until Oct. 15. From Sept. 15 to Sept. 22, there were a total of 150 riders, averaging approximately 12 passengers per day on each bus, Debban said.
The routes begin at the top of the hour, every hour, from the southeast corner of the Wal-Mart Store, starting at 6 a.m. and going until 6 p.m. There is a bus always on the Ontario loop and one on the Payette loop every hour.
“I think during the morning shift, everybody is going to work,” Spiller said. The buses are comfortable, Spiller said.
“These are really nice to ride, like driving a car,” he said. One of his stops is in front of Fruitland High School, but there have been no riders even at the end of the school day. Spiller said he thinks colder weather may change that.
There are signs posted at each stop, 12 in Ontario, nine in Fruitland and eight in Payette, but buses can be flagged down any place along their routes and will stop where it is safe.
“Now the job is to be out of their cars,” Spiller said. “I think we have been accepted,” he said, judging by the reaction of people along the route.
Beginning Oct. 15, fares will be $1 per ride for adults ages 18 to 54, 75 cents per ride for youth ages 6 to 17 and 50 cents per ride for senior citizens 55 years and up. Monthly passes will be available at $30 for adults, $20 for youth and $15 for senior citizens.
