It’s official:
Peak bus to begin
June 3
By TRAVIS
PURSER
Express Staff Writer
Public
transportation expands throughout the Wood River Valley June 3 when, for
the first time, commuters from Bellevue to Sun Valley will be able ride a
bus to and from work.
For $1.50,
riders can pick up the new peak-hour bus Monday through Friday three times
in the morning and three times in the evening.
A trip from
Bellevue to Ketchum is scheduled to take about 40 minutes. A trip from
Hailey to Ketchum is scheduled to take 26 minutes.
The first
pick-up occurs at 6:10 a.m. at the Park & Ride lot on the south end of
Bellevue and reaches St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, just south of
Ketchum, at 6:43 a.m., after making seven stops.
Another run
begins at 7:05 a.m. in Bellevue and reaches the Sinclair service station
in Sun Valley at 7:52 a.m., after making 11 stops. A final run from
Bellevue to Ketchum begins at 9:05 a.m.
Afternoon
runs in the reverse direction begin in Sun Valley at 3:30, 5 and 6:45 p.m.
In
addition, a limited schedule of service from north to south in the morning
and from south to north in the evening will be offered.
Passengers
will be able to pay fares on the bus, or buy passes at Atkinsons’ Market
in Hailey and Ketchum. Maps and schedules are being printed and should be
available at the grocery stores by May 27.
News that
the long-anticipated bus service would begin June 3 came Monday when the
Blaine County Commission voted unanimously to enter a contract with Sun
Valley Express to provide a 42-passenger bus.
The
contract runs for a year, beginning June 1.
Ketchum
Area Rapid Transit will oversee the operation for the county, a first step
toward KART’s becoming a regional purveyor of public transportation
services, Commissioner Sarah Michael said.
The bus
will feature bike racks, and, in an effort to entice finicky commuters
from their cars, coffee and bagels.
Though the
service has $40,000 in its county-managed trust fund, enough to operate
for at least three months, and perhaps longer, funding for permanent
operation is not yet in place.
Beth
Callister, director of Wood River Rideshare, has been deeply involved with
the fundraising effort. She said the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley have
indicated they will allocate up to $30,000 each for the service during the
city’s upcoming budget hearings.
Callister
is also looking for more money from grants, fares and private donations.