Island Transit may get some money from the state for a connector route after all.
But it may not save the 411 route that connects Whidbey Island to Skagit.
State Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano, managed to get an amendment into the House’s multimodal transportation bill Thursday that would provide $1 million for the Everett connector.
If it makes it through the Senate and the governor approves, the money would be split between Island Transit and Skagit Transit to restart the route that connects both Skagit and Camano Island to Everett.
The route from Camano was cancelled last year after state funding dried up.
A condition, however, is that the buses on the route must charge fares, a requirement directed at IT’s fare-free buses.
“I think riders need to have some skin in the game,” he said. “I think people who ride the buses should be willing to pay.”
The fact that IT offers fare-free buses and recent financial problems have been a sticking points with state lawmakers as funding issues come up.
IT was forced to cut routes and lay off staff last year after financial problems came to light.
State auditors identified serious problems with financial oversight.
Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson, a member of the transit board, points out that the new board and new director have taken major strides toward fixing the problems. She’s thankful for Hayes’ help.
“He’s the only one who championed it for us,” she said. “He’s the only legislator who understands the situation we are in.”
She said she understands that state lawmakers have concerns about Island Transit, but she said it’s not fair to “take it out on” the community when it was transit administrators who made the mistakes.
The Island Transit board members agreed to look at transitioning to fares on all buses in the wake of the financial problems. But the change, if implemented, would be many months away as the financial feasibility and public input must be gauged, according to Island Transit Director Ken Graska.
Adding fare boxes to just the connector buses would be easier, the officials said.
The Island Transit board is scheduled to discuss the future of the other connector Monday morning.
The state funding for the Tri-County connector, or Route 411, may end this summer as state funding dries up; the route links Oak Harbor to March’s Point in Skagit County.
Board members are considering funding a skeletal version of the route with the agency’s limited funds.
Johnson said she hopes the funding for the Everett connector could free up some money for the 411 route.
Johnson suggested that the routes could be configured so that the 411 route off Whidbey could be considered part of the Everett connector; if that would work, some of the state money could be used to support the 411.
As for Camano, Hayes said the return of the connector service will be very welcome.
“The folks over on Camano don’t have a lot of commuting options,” Hayes said. “This helps keep cars off the road and gives the people the ability to get to Everett.”
