County expanding local bus service

Public transportation riders will be happy to learn that the Wahkiakum transport service Wahkiakum On The Move (WOTM) is expanding its regular service Monday-Friday as of August 1.

The extended schedule is due to a $340,000 dollar grant the organization received from both the State and Federal Departments of Health and Human Services transportation programs.

“The funding allows us to make more daily runs on a weekly basis,” said Transportation Coordinator Bob Stillings.

Along with an increase in its day-to-day bus service, WOTM’s new plan is to provide what it calls “route deviated service.” The door-to-door service will drop people in front of the places they need to go.

The personalized service will also increase the transportation options for housebound seniors who no longer drive and those who can't afford a car, or don’t drive.

The transportation grant also kicks in money to expand the non-emergency medical transport service part of the operation.

Wahkiakum County has been identified as having twice as many seniors as the average county and WOTM is often their only way to get around. “Sometimes our riders need to see their doctors or dentists in Longview, Olympia or Portland and now we can get them there on a more reliable schedule,” said Stillings.

The grant funding also adds more daily runs to the west end of the county. The added service will give riders better access to the Long Beach Pacific Transit bus line, and other bus routes that run north and south along the Highway 101 corridor.

The bus service provides individual pick-up service and if a rider needs to be picked up at an unlisted or unscheduled stop, wave for the bus to stop.

“The transportation operating grant is just one facet of the new funding,” said Stillings, “there is also $50,000 for capitol improvements."

Currently Wahkiakum On The Move operates three 14-passenger vans. The capital improvement portion of the grant lets WOTM management add a fourth van to relieve the stress created by their lengthened schedule. It also provides money for upgrading the older vans, and for additional driver safety and CPR training.

Stillings said many Wahkiakum residents have become reliant on the bus service. The WOTM’s expectation is that as the economy continues to slow and gas prices increase, so will ridership. The regular daily transportation schedule will help people complete their daily routines.

Wahkiakum On The Move’s new schedule can be obtained by calling 360-795-310, or toll free at 888-795-3101.