Bus service could see jump start

SANDPOINT — Residents rendered immobile by NICE’s rural demise should be back on the road by the end of the month if all goes according to transportation officials’ plans.

Clif Warren, regional mobility manager for Community Transportation Association of Idaho, told the Sandpoint Public Works committee on Wednesday that the arrangement with Dover to restore some of the abandoned services was gaining traction.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll have services restored by the end of January, and maybe even sooner,” Warren said.

Dover officials are still having trouble acquiring their bus from the East Coast provider, who is not returning their calls, said Warren. However, the city will gain access to one of NICE’s old buses after the city acquires approval from the District Coordinating Council.

 ARRA money already in place will finance the service replacement, which will serve as a temporary measure until the already-planned bus system between Dover, Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai begins operation.

The temporary service will restore both the door-to-door assistance and the intercity transit between Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. Dover hasn’t announced any pricing for the service, but Warren said he doesn’t expect it to provoke any bank account woes.

“I can’t speak for Dover, but I don’t think their intent is to charge any more than before,” he said. “They might even charge less. After all, the new bus system is designed to be free.”

According to Warren, the new system could even acquire the federal funding that NICE lost after it were audited.

However, he said that effort would need approval from the DCC and the Public Transportation Advisory Council. The Idaho Department of Transportation would then need to authorize the request and draft an amendment for the Federal Transit Administration.

The process would take several months to complete, Warren added.