CAMANO ISLAND — Statements from the most recent Island Transit Board of Directors meeting sparked outrage here as people worried their bus service would be cut.
Island Transit, an independent agency funded mostly by sales tax dollars, says it’s a misunderstanding.
Newly elected chairman Rick Almberg mentioned redistricting and getting another agency to run Camano Island bus service. The comment was made as part of an impromptu brainstorming session, fellow board member Rick Hannold said. There has been no serious discussion of redistricting, added Ken Graska, the transit agency’s interim director.
It may take more than that to reassure riders on Camano Island who feel their buses would be first on the chopping block, especially for an agency that has struggled to get a grip on its mismanaged finances. In 2014, Island Transit’s former finance manager was fired and its executive director stepped down.
A poorly monitored and severely depleted budget led to layoffs, route eliminations and suspension of Saturday bus service. Island Transit wants to restore some of the things cut in the last year, Hannold said, but the group still needs to reduce costs.
That’s what worries people on Camano.
Providing bus service to the island of about 16,000 people is costly — more than double the expense per rider compared to Whidbey Island, according to Island Transit. But for people who can’t drive due to age, finances or disabilities, public transit is a lifeline.
“It permits a lot of people to age in place in their homes because they can use the service to get their groceries and get to events and lots and lots of doctor’s appointments,” said Ginny Berube with Senior Services of Island County.
Berube works out of the Camano Island Senior &Community Center. Many people who come in for meals or activities can’t drive, she said. For some, it’s their only regular social interaction.
Kevin Remlinger relies on the bus to get to the center for lunch three days a week. His family helps him get around when the bus isn’t an option.
“My sister is my caregiver, and she would be heartbroken if this went away,” Remlinger said. “That would be a nightmare.”
It’s unlikely another transit agency would take over Camano Island, which is part of the Island County Public Transportation Benefit Area that’s taxed to pay for service, Graska said.
“This was definitely a miscommunication or misunderstanding,” he said. “Folks can know for now that there is no plan or even any discussion of eliminating any of the fixed routes on Camano Island, or contracting out for the service.”
The one route that may disappear is a state-funded start-up that connects to Skagit County. State money for Route 411 runs out June 30, and Island Transit is trying to find room in their budget to pick up the expense, Graska said.
Restoring Saturday service also is a priority, but it won’t happen this year, Hannold said.
None of the people on the Island Transit board live on Camano Island, which worries Camano Center Director Karla Jacks. She ran for the Island County Board of Commissioners and lost to Hannold.
“I think it’s very unfair that Island Transit doesn’t have a community meeting here or do a better investigation of the needs on Camano Island,” she said.
Six meetings are being held on Whidbey Island over the next two months to address route changes, Hannold said. There will be meetings on Camano Island when something affects people there, he and Graska promised.
At this point, it’s unclear if Island Transit will be able to maintain Route 411 to Skagit County, but the agency does hope to restore Saturday bus service in 2016.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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