- a weekly column published in the Pioneer Press

During the past several months, the Siskiyou Local Transportation Commission (LTC) has held several open meetings to determine unmet public transportation needs. At my request, meetings were held in Fort Jones, Happy Camp and at the Senior Center in Greenview.

Transit services are subsidized by Transportation Development Act (TDA) monies that come from a ¼ cent sales tax. The TDA monies also pay for roads and highway maintenance. When expenses for public transit go up, the road share goes down.

Each year the LTC determines the county’s “unmet needs” for services. To qualify, a proposed service must be operationally feasible. The community must show that it accepts the proposed service and that it would serve a significant number of the population. It must also be economically feasible, demonstrating that the fares will pay for at least 15% of the costs the first year and 25% thereafter.  

Currently, the STAGE (Siskiyou Transit And General Express) operates a morning and evening commuter run to Yreka. The service uses large buses. There is another round trip Hwy. 3 route mid-day and one at close of school. These all stop at the Fort Jones, Greenview  and Etna Post Offices.

All the District 5 public meetings identified a desire for a local dial-a-ride type service. Scott Valley people, (particularly seniors,) had identified a need for intra-valley service – especially to the senior center. The Commission first looked at adding one additional round bus trip from Fort Jones to Etna. They would need nine regular passengers on the route to justify the costs. It was decided that this would not be flexible enough to meet needs. 

Dial-a-ride services typically utilize ADA equipped vehicles that carry 10-15 passengers. Like a taxi, the drivers are dispatched by radio. The difficulty with this concept is the shear size of the valley and the probability that one van would be called upon to pick up from the four points of the compass with no guarantee of a steady passenger base. A limited circular route might be better than Dial-A-Ride.

The LTC has just completed a survey of health and social services organizations to determine which are currently providing transportation. Schools and recreational organizations also have vans. In response to these unmet needs, the Commission has decided to have county Transportation Services Manager Tom Anderson look at available resources. Research what other places have done and try to find some creative options to be brought back to the LTC within the next six months.

The route from Happy Camp up the river to Yreka currently runs only Mondays and Fridays. An additional run to Happy Camp Happy Camp service for three times a day would require 52 additional passengers a day at 60cents a trip to meet minimum cost share.

Seniors identified a need to make medical run routes to Redding and Medford available.

The costs for a round trip to Redding would be $5 a day with a minimum of 14 passengers, The trip is 200 miles and would take an 8 hour round trip route. It would probably cause heartburn for local merchants as it would be seen as increasing shopping opportunities outside the area.

The trip to Medford at $5 would require 10 passegers a day. 100 miles at an 8 hour round triip. Questions about bus operating in another state. 

The true Dial-A-Ride program was discussed as many areas wanted it. It is similar to a public taxi service. Typically it is ADA equipped and carries 10-15 passengers. Drivers are dispatchjed by radio. There is a question as to whether the new Yreka taxi service might expand into new areas and whether it could be subsidized. The issue was tabled for discussion next year when unmet needs are reconsidered.

A resolution of decisions will be presented to the Commission for approval at the next LTC meeting in July.