PORT ANGELES — Clallam Transit is celebrating its 35th anniversary this week, and passengers can ride the bus for free Saturday to commemorate the milestone.
Agency officials gathered at the Port Angeles Gateway transit center last Sunday to unveil a new metal insignia to celebrate the public transportation system’s 35th year in operation.
Board Vice Chairman Brad Collins joined Clallam Transit General Manager Wendy Clark-Getzin and former general managers Bill Mac Cully, Dan Di Guilio and Terry Weed for the unveiling of the commemorative 1980 bus token.
The true anniversary of Clallam Transit was Tuesday, when the agency offered free bus rides to passengers countywide.
Free service day
A second free service day for fixed-route, dial-a-ride and paratransit buses will be Saturday.
The free service is to thank riding passengers and to encourage new riders to try the system’s services, officials said.
During the weeklong celebration, Clallam Transit is offering a chance to win a free monthly premium bus pass in a game called “Try Transit” through Saturday.
The goal of the game is to ride the bus to destinations listed on a Try Transit card.
Cards are available at Bay Variety, Swain’s General Store, Haggen’s, Forks Outfitters, Mount Pleasant IGS, The Gateway transit center, Clallam Transit headquarters, Rainshadow Coffee and public libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay.
Try Transit cards
The purpose of Try Transit week is to “showcase the vital role public transportation plays in the daily lives of people and to promote greater use of the local public transit service throughout the county,” officials said.
Clallam Transit began offering trips between Port Angeles and Sequim on Oct. 13, 1980.
The service expanded to four city routes months later.
The agency now operates a fleet of 32 modern, wheelchair-accessible buses on 14 countywide routes and 20 paratransit vehicles.
Last year, Clallam Transit tallied 973,346 passenger trips and carried its riders 2,155,481 miles.
For more information about Clallam Transit, click on www.clallamtransit.com.
