Potential future service changes under consideration
by Dennis Rahm
Link Transit has launched a study and wants input from area residents as they consider future service changes that could impact the Lake Chelan Valley and all of Chelan and Douglas counties.
Link has developed three service scenarios that feature specific route level ideas intended to improve public transportation in the two-county area. The scenarios propose changes to where bus routes go, the times of day and days of the week they operate, and how often they arrive. Some of the scenarios include new routes or general public dial-a-ride service replacements for existing fixed routes.
Other ideas being considered include new service to the Chelan Walmart, new Sunday service in Manson, Chelan and Chelan Falls and also more late evening trips to Chelan. In addition to service changes, Link is also studying the possibility of transitioning to a zero-fare system.
To better understand how some of the changes might affect area residents, Link has created a survey for riders and non-riders to provide feedback. The survey explains details of all three service scenarios and allows for public comment on proposed changes. The survey is anonymous and will take from five to 30-minutes to complete.
Link Marketing and Communications Coordinator Eric West said “the changes shown in the survey are proposals only and are intended to make transit more efficient, accessible, and convenient for riders by putting services closer to where people live and work and providing service when people need it”.
Any changes to Link Transit service will service will consider feedback garnered from the survey with the intent of combining the best parts of the three scenarios. Recommendations from the survey would likely be implemented in 2022.
More information about this project can be learned by visiting the Link Transit online open house Link has also scheduled a Facebook Live virtual open house on Wednesday March 17 at 12-noon.
Photo above: Selina Danko, Link Outreach Specialist, is holding customer interaction sessions throughout the county. She is pleased with the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations which helps explain the process and encourages Link riders to invest some time into the survey.
