PORT ANGELES — Fully staffed and with four new buses set to be delivered next month, Clallam Transit System can start contemplating how to implement changes requested by riders and residents next year.
“I’m pleased to say staffing has improved dramatically,” General Manager Jim Fetzer said at the agency’s meeting Wednesday. “It looks like we’ll be able to perhaps put those plans in place early in 2025.”
In a survey conducted on behalf of the Clallam Transit by Walker Consultants, respondents identified Sunday service, more frequent service and later evening service as three upgrades they would like to see.
This is the first time in about three years Clallam Transit has been fully staffed, Fetzer said.
In July, the state Department of Transportation notified the agency it had been awarded $3.655 million for the purchase of additional buses and paratransit vehicles to add to its fleet.
When they arrive in September, they will be wrapped with images of Olympic Peninsula wildlife taken by local photographers.
The one-year, zero-fare pilot program instituted on Jan. 1 continues to have positive impact on ridership, Fetzer said. Mixed-route ridership in June was 20 percent higher and in July was 13 percent higher than those months last year.
Monthly paratransit ridership for June was 16 percent higher and for July was 29 percent higher.
The intralink microtransit service saw the biggest ridership increases; monthly ridership in Forks increased by 196 percent in June and 333 percent in July. In Sequim, intralink ridership increased 13 percent in June and 66 percent in July, compared with the same months in 2023.
In addition to boosting ridership, eliminating fares has decreased the number of fare disputes with riders and reduced boarding times, Fetzer said. On the downside, drivers are making more stops, which has slowed down service, and maintenance workers are spending more time cleaning buses and bus stop areas.
“It seems like it has removed an enormous barrier for a lot of people,” Operations Manager Jason McNickle said. “Our ridership for the first seven months of 2024 exceeds that of the last 10 years.”
Fetzer said he would bring a report on the zero-fare program to the board for discussion at its next meeting on Sept. 18.
The board unanimously approved its 2024-2029 Transit Development Plan, which states Clallam Transit’s goals and priorities, explains planned capital improvements and provides strategies for achieving them. The vote came after a hearing, which no member of the public attended.
Fetzer said Clallam Transit did not receive any response from the public during the past two months when the plan was available for review. The state Department of Transportation requires transit agencies to submit a six-year plan annually. Clallam Transit’s 2024-2029 Transit Development Plan can be found at tinyurl.com/bdedwbt9.
The board also unanimously approved:
• The renewal of a one-year cooperative agreement with the Quillayute Valley School District for use of its transit center in Forks for bus parking and for certain maintenance services. As part of the agreement, Clallam Transit provides emergency breakdown and other services. Last year’s agreement was for $36,243; this year, Fetzer said, the contract is expected to be about $40,000 to $41,000.
“It saves Clallam Transit quite a bit of money by us not having to deadhead [run a bus without passengers] out to Forks every day, and I think it also helps them out,” Fetzer said.
• An employment agreement with Fetzer for $157,301 to include a monthly vehicle reimbursement of $550 and cost-of-living adjustment. The board named Fetzer general manager in July 2023. He replaced Kevin Gallacci, who retired after 39 years at the agency.
• The board recognized fixed-route driver Denny Goudie as Clallam Transit’s employee of the second quarter.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
