Pullman-Moscow bus route in the works
COAST working to get funding for bus service that would also include Colfax
MOSCOW — Local transportation service COAST is planning to introduce daily bus routes connecting Moscow, Pullman and Colfax that will be available for the general public.
On Thursday, the Moscow Transportation Commission heard a report about the proposed bus shuttle service from former COAST manager Ryan Avery, who is now the grants contract manager at Via Mobility Services in Colorado.
Avery said COAST is working on applying for Washington State Department of Transportation grant money to fund the new service. It is expected to cost $1 million for the first two years. The grant awards will be announced next spring, he said.
COAST would begin the new bus routes July 1 if it receives the grant. Avery said the grant requires a 5% match from local stakeholders. After two years, that match would increase to 10%.
Avery said COAST is proposing two 14-passenger bus services running 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. One bus would travel between Pullman and Moscow. The other would travel between Pullman and Colfax.
He said COAST still needs letters of support from stakeholders like the City of Moscow and must determine where the bus stops will be located.
COAST conducted a survey in March to determine if local residents were interested in this bus service. More than 1,000 people responded, including Washington State University students.
Out of the three cities, participants indicated they need to travel to Moscow the most often. The majority of people cited shopping, dining and groceries as the most common reasons to travel to Moscow or Pullman. Medical services, recreation and the Moscow Farmers Market were also popular reasons.
Moscow residents reported a greater need to travel to Pullman for work.
They also cited the location of bus stops as the most important factor when choosing to use public transportation.
Avery said COAST would like to keep the buses “fare free” at least for the first two years. He said the proposed routes will not go into residential areas because those areas are serviced by Pullman Transit and Moscow’s SMART Transit.
Wheatland Express used to run buses between Pullman and Moscow until that service ended in 2011.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
