County Court OKs funds for bus service
Cash is part of state stimulus program

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
LarryM@argusobserver.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:15 AM PDT

Jack Davis, Snake River Transit driver, prepares to leave the Wal-Mart parking lot on the Ontario route Wednesday.

ONTARIO — Wednesday, the Malheur County Court OK’d the transfer of $187,271 in state money to the Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services to help that agency keep its transportation service functioning into the future.

The Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services is the operating agency for Malheur County Special Transportation, under contract with the county.

The extra funding will also provide some enhancements for Snake River Transit, a collaborative effort between Oregon and Idaho entities.

The money will be used by MCOA for purchased services, mobility management, vehicle replacement, preventive maintenance, radio equipment and additional benches at bus stops where people get on Snake River Transit.

“We are required to make sure it gets done,” Janice Belnap, county administrator, said regarding the county’s responsibility, adding, as the contractor, MCOA officials also worked to make sure the services are provided.

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Special Transportation Operating program funds of $81,262 were allocated to the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living and Lifeways for client transportation services and to pay for vehicle and MCOA for insurance, license and fees and operations. Allocations from both grants were recommended by the Malheur County Special Transportation Fund Advisory Council.

While MCOA provides the service and has its name on the vehicle titles, ODOT and the county are listed as the first and second security holders, Belnap said.

Meanwhile, the bus service in the valley continues to grow and expand, with plans to extend regular scheduled service from Ontario to Nyssa and Vale, at least one day per week to start off with.

“That is still a work in progress at this time,” Rusty Stretch, transportation systems manager, said. “We’re always trying consider other options. There is always room for improvement.”

Presently, ridership is about more than 1,000 people a month, he said.

Wednesday, transit driver Jack Davis said 53 people had been transported by the bus he was driving by 3 p.m., with three hours to go. Stretch estimated ridership on Snake River Transit has about doubled from about a year ago.

“It really helps,” Janet Sato, Ontario resident, said. “Without this bus I don’t know how I would go shopping.”

She rides the bus two or three times a day, she said.