DARRINGTON — The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe last week launched a new bus service to connect rural areas that previously lacked public transit.
The Darrington-Concrete Direct Shuttle Bus Service, which the tribe calls DC-Direct, had its first run Oct. 31.
The bus travels between Darrington, the Sauk-Suiattle Reservation on Highway 530 and the town of Concrete. It connects people to the Snohomish County public transportation system via Darrington and the Skagit County system via Concrete.
The new 14-seat bus makes six round trips between Darrington and Concrete each week day. It’s roughly 50 miles round trip along Highway 530 and Highway 20.
Service starts a little after 6 a.m. and ends around 6 p.m. The bus has a wheelchair lift and the ride is free for seniors, students or people with disabilities.
For general fare, a ride between the reservation and Darrington costs 50 cents, and a ride between Darrington and Concrete costs one dollar. Local service, such as stops within Darrington, is free. The bus route starts at the rodeo grounds west of town and has a stop downtown before heading toward the reservation and Concrete.
The new transit program is paid for by a grant from the state Department of Commerce for operations, and the equipment was covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs. The grant for operations is about $120,000, according to the list of awards for 2015-17.
After the grant expires, “the goal is to sustain the bus,” said Joni Soriano, director of planning and development for the tribe. “We have been applying for the shuttle bus service for many years.”
Fliers and bus schedules are available on local reader boards and at Darrington City Hall, Soriano said.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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