Twin Transit will turn 30 on Nov. 1, but there will be no whining about crows feet or middle-age spread. Rather, things are going pretty well for the public transit system.
Ridership is up. Old buses are being replaced. And all will benefit this fall from boosted security.
Overall, 30 is looking pretty good, said General Manager Ernie Graichen.
Theres really been a cultural change over the last four years, he said, and I think things will continue to change over the next five years.
One key change already being felt is an increased number of riders. So far this year, ridership is up 15 percent overall. Paratransit, the curb to curb service for the disabled, is up 17 percent.
Graichen said the increases are likely due to a combination of factors ranging from high gas prices to route changes made last year.
We made some changes in July 2006 to optimize our routes and provide better service, and to overcome barriers of increased traffic and rail barriers, Graichen said. We continually revise our routes to meet the needs of the riders and to overcome these barriers. There are always a few grumblers when we change anything, but for the most part people see the benefit and thats seen in our ridership.
Riders likely have already noticed some of the other changes in the works. One of the most obvious is a handful of new buses, each painted with a new blue and gray color scheme (replacing the older white and blue stripes).
We are aggressively replacing buses, Graichen said. In 2004, our support increased when the sales and use tax went from 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent to fund our basic operations. Prior to that, wed been running in the red for five years.
Twin Transit, which operates as a Public Transportation Benefit Area, receives 0.2 percent of total sales and use tax. It had been receiving half that, 0.1 percent, since the allocation was first approved in 1985. The increase was approved in 2004.
Replacing buses was not an option then, he said. Buses are typically replaced every 12 years for the large 30-passenger coaches and every seven years for the smaller 15-passenger buses.
To make up for falling behind in this schedule, Twin Transit has so far replaced six of its 14 buses. Replacement cost for the coaches is about $313,000 and for the small buses is about $84,000, Graichen said.
The current fleet includes seven coaches and seven smaller buses. These combine to cover five routes for about 300,000 trips a year.
Both the new buses and the old will benefit this winter from surveillance systems, an effort to deter bad behavior and provide a record in the event of a crash or other incident.
Its part of an overall initiative to reduce the threat of terrorism but to also improve the safety of all passengers and drivers, said Graichen. It will reduce vandalism and we will partner with law enforcement so that they can access video for their needs.
Graichen declined to reveal how much the surveillance systems will cost, only that the money would be coming from the reserve fund.
Graichen also declined to provide information on Twin Transits operating budget, but according to the state Department of Transportation, Twin Transit collected nearly $1.8 million in revenue in 2006. About $62,500 of that was collected as bus fares. The balance was primarily from federal funds and state special needs grants.
Total operating expenses in 2006 were more than $1.5 million.
DOT records also indicated that Twin Transit had about $392,000 in its capital reserve fund as of Dec. 31, 2006.
Graichen said Twin Transits next goal is to expand service beyond the Twin Cities.
In the next five years, I think youll see a coordinated effort for public transportation through the whole county, he said. Its something we see coming, but it will take coordination and support from the local government reps and transportation officials.
Areas already identified as most in need of public transportation are those in south Lewis County, specifically Winlock, Toledo, Onalaska and Napavine.
Twin Transit was recently awarded the Golden Coach Award from the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool for its 67 percent reduction in accidents over 2004 and 2005. The award was given last month.
Its a credit to the quality of our drivers, and the policies and practices we follow, Graichen said.
Thats not so bad for 30.
Amanda Haines covers municipal government and health for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8245, or by e-mail at ahaines@chronline.com.
