PORT ANGELES – The future of the “snow bus” to the Hurricane Ridge recreation area starting next month is in doubt because of a lack of qualified bus drivers signing up to drive the weekend shuttle.
Port Angeles School District Superintendent Gary Cohn said Thursday the district’s bus routes have been reduced because of budget cuts, so there’s a smaller pool of available bus drivers.
“It’s a different kind of route from the sports and other trips we do. We rely upon volunteers and we just don’t have enough drivers to volunteer,” he said.
“They must have experience and must have made the run a few times.”
Clallam Transit System is negotiating with three charter bus operators that possibly could provide the service but a deal may not be reached before the bus is scheduled to begin running for the season.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club’s snow bus has operated on Saturdays and Sundays from early January until early March each year, serving primarily seniors and students.
A round-trip ticket is $5 with no reservations needed.
Passengers are picked up at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center at Fourth and Peabody streets, and dropped back there at about 5 p.m.
The Port Angeles City Council voted at its Dec. 5 meeting to provide $5,000 toward the bus’ annual operating costs of $13,000.
But that will be moot if not enough drivers are available.
