Link Transit

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Link Transit - Connecting Our Communities - Chelan and Douglas Counties, State of Washington

Route 37, which provides service to Plain and Lake Wenatchee, may continue to operate past June 2011. That is if Link Transit is awarded another grant from the Washington State DOT to fund the operation of this service. The grant applications are due in December, and Link's Board of Directors authorized staff to submit the application. If the grant request is denied, the service will be discontinued after June 30, 2011.
Link Transit recieved numerous letters and phone calls in response to the proposal earlier this fall to not apply for the grant. This response gave staff reason to revisit the issue and recommend to the Board that the grant be applied for again. This service has been operated with grant funds since just after it was reinstated in March of 2007.
Boardings on Route 37 fall below the Board-adopted standard of 5 passengers per service hour. Currently, the route averages about 3.4 passengers per hour of service. Several comments centered around the timing of the route, and how some adjustments to the schedule may allow additional people to ride. The route currently has four round trips per day Monday through Friday, and three on Saturday. These trips are primarily designed to get people to Leavenworth in time to connect with a Route 22 bus to Wenatchee that will arrive in time for an 8:00 work start, and than again for those leaving Wenatchee at 5:00, arriving back in Leavenworth by 6:00 to connect to the bus back to Plain and Lake Wenatchee. Other trips allow for medical and shopping during the day. When this vehicle is not operating the Route 37, it is providing general public dial-a-ride (DART) service in the Leavenworth area.

Starting on Wednesday, November 10 and continuing through November 26, Boetzke's Avenue in Manson will be closed.

Link Transit has scheduled a series of opportunities in several communities to review the comprehensive transit plan put together that proposes some widespread changes to transit service in Chelan and Douglas Counties. The comments gathered at these sessions will be used to fine-tune the proposals for changes, which are scheduled for adoption by Link Transit’s Board of Directors in February.
These meetings are an opportunity for the public to review Link’s proposals to make changes to routes and schedules within the Wenatchee area, as well as in Leavenworth, Cashmere, Entiat, and Chelan.
In chronological order, these meetings currently scheduled are:
Thursday, November 4, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Martin’s Market Place, Cashmere
Friday, November 5, 10:00 AM - Noon, Waterville Town Hall
Monday, November 8, 12:00 - 2:00 PM, Entiat Food Center
Wednesday, November 10, 10:00 AM - Noon, Entiat Post Office
Monday, November 15, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Chelan City Hall
Friday, November 19, 3:30 - 5:30 PM, Manson Bay Market
Friday, November 19, Noon - 2:00 PM, Leavenworth Public Library
Tuesday, December 7 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Leavenworth Senior Center

Concurrently with the public review of this plan, Link is also collecting comments on the potential of cuts to service at the end of 2011 to offset a projected budget deficit of $1.8 million.
Elimination of such services as Saturday service, shortening the span of service within Wenatchee and East Wenatchee by up to 2 hours, eliminating service to Waterville, Rock Island and Malaga, as well as reducing the number of trips to Chelan and Leavenworth are all being considered.

The newly released comprehensive plan that outlines some significant routing changes has caused some confusion for people.
What the redesigned system of routes does is basically pretty simple: we have shifted resources around in the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee area to, what we hope anyway, provide more effective and efficient service. This new system of routes will not cost any more to operate that what is presently on the street at this time. While it looks like there is could be a lot more service in Wenatchee, we have moved to fewer routes with higher frequency. There is no significant change in the actual hours of transit service provided.
What we are proposing for Routes 21 and 22 is a streamlining of these, meaning that we will eliminate the portions of the routes that travel through some of the residential areas of Leavenworth, Cashmere and Entiat. Eliminating these few minutes here and there totals enough time that we can actually increase the number of trips to Chelan or Leavenworth without increasing the number of buses operating on those routes. We should, with these minor changes, be able to make the trips in less than one hour, so this means that each trip will start and end at the same time each hour, making it easier to remember when the bus comes by. And it increases the frequency the bus operates, which is a huge plus.
In Cashmere, we are proposing that the trolley (Route 33) travel all the way to Olds Station via Easy Street. So this means that rather than a bus (or trolley) every 30 minutes on the Route 33 in Cashmere, there will be service once per hour. But this gives Cashmere residents another option for getting to the Wenatchee area. It is intended that this route will connect to the Route 8 in Olds Station, to provide connections to both Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.
There is one caveat to this proposed change to service, and that is that everything is dependent on funding. The recession has taken a huge bite out of Link's budget. We will still be able to many of the changes outlined in the comprehensive plan, but there could be a reduction in the hours of service in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee (starting later in the morning and ending earlier in the evening). There might be as many as three trips per day elminated from each of Routes 21 and 22, and service eliminated from Rock Island, Malaga, and Waterville.
Some of our services are grant funded, and so even if we eliminated them, we would not realize any savings. These are Routes 20, 26, and 37, and the 30 minute frequency on Wenatchee Routes 1, 2, and 8. We cannot redirect these grant funds to other services. If we discontinue the service, or reduce frequency, the grant money goes away.
Additionally, there could be the elimination of the local services in Leavenworth (Route 32), Chelan (Route 34) and Cashmere (Route 33). If Route 33 is cut, the aforementioned redesigned route that would serve Easy Street would not operate either.
Hopefully this will help clear up some of the confusion that was caused by the release of the comprehensive plan at the same time we issued the list of potential service cuts. To reiterate, most of the elements of the comprehensive plan can go into effect even if we do have to reduce service. It just wouldn't be as good of service for everyone!

As the Link Transit Board of Directors heads into budget deliberations for 2011, there are many choices they will be facing that will affect residents of Chelan and Douglas Counties where public transit services are concerned. The continued economic recession has brought forward the high likelihood that Link Transit will be facing a budget deficit and potential cuts to service sometime in 2011. Link staff has developed a list of potential cuts to service that may be necssary to bring service in line with available operating revenue. You may download that by clicking here.
Let Us Hear From You
It is with these impacts in mind that Link staff is interested in hearing from residents about these choices. We have developed a short questionnaire to help gather feedback on potential cuts and where Link should focus its priorities in the coming years. Please take a few minutes to complete that questionnaire by clicking here.
Additionally, Link staff have spent the better part of 2010 examining the current route structure and looking for ways to improve efficiency and provide a better experience for the users of the services provided. This comprehensive plan is now available for public review and comment, and we encourage you to do so. On Thursday, October 28, staff will be at the Morris Building, located at 23 S. Wenatchee Avenue to discuss this proposal and take comments. We will be there from 11 AM until 6 PM. Stop in and take a look at what is being proposed. A summary of the plan, along with some statistical information on Link's services, as well as other information, can be downloaded by clicking here.
Additional open houses will be held in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and other communities over the coming weeks. Notice of those will be posted on this website.

Did you know that Link Transit offers 20 round trips each day, Monday through Friday, between Leavenworth and Wenatchee and Chelan and Wenatchee? Service from Leavenworth starts at 5:25 AM, and service from Chelan starts at 5:43 AM.
Regular fares are just $2 each way, and monthly passes are just $50. Discounts are available for seniors and students. This sure beats the heck out of $3.00 or more per gallon of gas.

If you need help planning the specifics of your trip, call our Guest Services staff at 662-1155.

It Pays To Ride Public Transportation
"Rarely does an employee benefit save both the employee and employer money. But through a great twist of the tax code, you may be able to commute with tax free dollars, and save your boss tax dollars, too." Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine

Reduce Your Commuting Costs by Sheltering a Portion of Your Income From Federal Taxes
It really does pay to ride transit! Federal law lets workers receive up to $110 a month in employer-paid tax-free transit costs, or take up to$110 a month in tax-sheltered payroll deductions for transit costs.
The law allows employers to give their workers up to $110 each month for transit or vanpool commuting costs as a tax-free benefit. It also allows employers to give employees the option to pay for commuting costs using pre-tax payroll deductions. Alternatively, employers can share these costs with their workers by paying part of their monthly commuting costs and letting workers pay the balance using pre-taxdollars. Either way, both employers and their employees can save money by participating in this simple plan.
This brochure, entitled "It Pays to Ride", created by the American Public Transportation Association, provides information on how organizations and individuals can take advantage ofthe federal law that provides tax benefits for using public transportation. The law was last revised on August 10, 2005, by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act-ALegacy for Users (P.L. 109-59), following modifications in June 1998 by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (P.L. 105-178).

Route 37, Plain - Lake Wenatchee has failed to achieve its relevant route performance standards and measurements for the last 38 months. Route 37 is grant funded and the grant expires June 30, 2011. Staff is proposing to eliminate Route 37 at the termination of the grant.

Route 37, Plain & Lake Wenatchee - Route Eliminated. Since its inception, this route has fallen short of its minimum ridership performance standard of five (5) passengers per hour.
Actual ridership on this route (#37) has averaged 3.2 passengers per hour on weekdays (Monday-Friday) and only 1.7 passengers per hour on Saturday. These ridership figures have steadily remained low since March 2007 when the route was introduced. Some route adjustments and marketing activities have been made since that time in hopes of increasing ridership; however, ridership has consistently remained low.
The Route 37 (Plain - Lake Wenatchee) service was established in March 2007. The service was established based on a community petition campaign and the award of a State of Washington allocated grant. The grant that pays for the Rt. 37 service will expire June 30, 2011. In order to continue funding for the Rt. 37, Link Transit must apply for funding by December 2010. As the Route 37 service has failed to meet its relevant performance standards for the past 38 months, staff has questioned whether Link Transit should apply for funding to continue this service in today's very tight fiscal environment. If the Link Transit Board of Directors approves this proposed service termination, Link Transit will not apply for the continuation of grant funding and the Route 37 service will end June 30, 2011.
Public comments regarding this proposal are encouraged. Written comments regarding the proposed route elimination will be accepted through November 15, 2010. Comments received will be submitted to the Link Transit Board of Directors for their review and consideration. Written comments can be submitted as follows:

- Regular mail: Attention Board Clerk, 2700 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
Notice of Public Hearing
A public hearing will be held in conjunction with the regular Link Transit board meeting on November 16, 2010 at the Link Transit Operations Base, 2700 Euclid Avenue in Wenatchee, starting at 4:00 p.m. Public comments are encouraged and will be heard at this time. Additionally, written comments received will also be considered by the Link Transit Board as part of their decision-making process.

SkiLink service is currently operating for the 2009-2010 ski season, with the same fares as last season.

Route 1 : South Wenatchee Ave., Viewdale, Terminal, Crawford, Miller, Russell, Methow
Route 2 : Orondo St., Cherry St., Western Ave., 5th St., Chelan Ave.
Route 3 : Mission Ave., 5th St., Western Ave., Castlerock St., Elliott St., Washington St., Orondo St.
Route 4 : Columbia St., Mission Ave., 9th St., Western Ave., Springwater St., Brown St., Central St., Princeton St., Maple St., Wenatchee Ave.
Route 8 : Orondo St., Okanogan St., Red Apple Road, Miller St., Springwater St., Princeton St., Maple St., Western Ave., Maiden Lane, Wenatchee Ave, Easy St., Olds Station, Cascade Ave., 19th St., Baker St., 15th St., Eastmont Ave., 11th St., Valley Mall Parkway
Route 9 - Wenatchee Trolley: Wenatchee Ave., Maple St., Valley North Center, Chelan St., 5th St., Wenatchee Ave.

Route 11 - East Wenatchee: S. Wenatchee Ave., Valley Mall Parkway, 2nd St. SE, Eastmont Ave., Grant Rd., Gilmore, Houston, 4th St. SE, S. Kentucky Ave., 3rd St. NE, Eastmont Ave., 5th St. NE, N. Kentucky Ave., 8th St. NE, 9th St. NE, Baker St., Valley Mall Parkway

Route 12 - East Wenatchee: S. Wenatchee Ave., Valley Mall Parkway, 9th St. NE, N. Kentucky Ave., 5th St. NE, Eastmont Ave., 3rd St. NE, S. Kentucky Ave., 4th St. SE, Houston, Gilmore, Grant Rd., Eastmont Ave., 2nd St. SE, Riverview Dr.

Route 19 - East Wenatchee Trolley: Yakima St., Chelan Ave., S. Mission Ave., Grant Rd., Simon St., Valley Mall Parkway, 9th St., Mission St., Orondo St

Route 23 - Rock Island: S. Wenatchee Ave., Valley Mall Parkway, Simon St., Highline Dr., Eller, Leslie, Rock Island Rd.

Route 25 - Waterville: S. Wenatchee Ave., Valley Mall Parkway, 9th St. NE, Baker Ave., 27th St. NE, Sunset Highway, SR 2, Orondo, Pine Canyon, Central Ave., Locust St., Monroe St., Birch St., Chelan Ave.

Route 20 - North Wenatchee, Olds Station, Orondo, Sun Cove, Chelan Falls, Chelan, Manson: Mission St., North Wenatchee Ave., Penny Rd., Euclid Ave., SR 2, Orondo, Sun Cove, Chelan Falls, SR 150, Chelan
Route 21 - North Wenatchee, Olds Station, Entiat, Chelan, Manson: Mission St., North Wenatchee Ave., Penny Rd., Euclid Ave., SR 97A, Entiat, Chelan, Manson

Route 22 - North Wenatchee, Olds Station, Monitor, Cashmere, Dryden, Peshastin, Leavenworth: Mission St., North Wenatchee Ave., Easy St., Penny Rd., SR 2/97, Cashmere, Peshastin, Dryden, Leavenworth

Route 24 - Malaga: Yakima St., Mission Ave., Orondo St., Cherry St., Miller St., Crawford St., S. Wenatchee Ave., Malaga/Alcoa Highway, Saturday Ave., Dixie Lane, West Malaga Rd.

Route 26 - Ardenvoir: North Wenatchee, Olds Station, Entiat:
Mission St., North Wenatchee Ave., Penny Rd., Euclid Ave., SR 97A, Entiat, Ardenvoir
Route 31 - Chelan and Manson: Johnson, Woodin, SR 150, Green Ave., Boetzkes Ave., Manson Blvd., Pedoi St.
Route 37 - Plain/Lake Wenatchee: Leavenworth, Chumstick Hwy., Plain, Lake Wenatchee Hwy., Parkside Grocery, Chiwawa Loop Rd.

Route 19 - East Wenatchee Trolley: Yakima St., Chelan Ave., S. Mission Ave., Grant Rd., Simon St., Valley Mall Parkway, 9th St., Mission St., Orondo St.

Route 32 - Leavenworth Trolley: SR 2, Front St., Commercial St., Mill St., Mine St., Prospect St., Ski Hill Dr., Evans St.

Route 33 - Cashmere Trolley: Cottage Ave., Division St., Pioneer Ave., Mission Creek Rd., Binder Rd., Tigner Rd., Westcott, Sunset Hwy., Evergreen Dr.
Route 34 - Lake Chelan Trolley - Manson Way, Woodin, Sanders to Lakeside Park

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