SPOT nets state Hall of Fame honors

And the winner is … Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit Authority. 

More commonly known as the SPOT bus, the local transit authority’s founders, employees and board were recently recognized by Idaho public transportation providers for their innovative service development model, foresight, hard work and extraordinary efforts. SPOT Bus received five statewide Hall of Fame awards at the recent Public Transportation Summit held recently in Coeur d’Alene.  

Among the awards received was the Hall of Fame Agency Award for Excellence in Inclusive Collaboration. The award is awarded to the public transportation system that best demonstrates excellence in inclusion, collaboration, and partnerships to deliver outstanding results. In 2011, Dover, acting as the lead city, was joined by the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay, and Kootenai, to launch a public transportation system offering transportation service connecting the four contiguous cities.  

Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit was the culmination of two years of work including the passage of local option tax in the city of Ponderay. The campaign for the passage of the Ponderay local option tax was led by the door-to-door effort of community members who recognized the importance of a bus system in an area where 30% of the population is below the poverty level. Dover applied for the grant with match funding provided by the cities of Ponderay and Sandpoint per their resort taxes, and Dover and Kootenai through their tax and in-kind dollars. 

In June 2011, the first SPOT bus was on the streets and being used by residents throughout the four cities. In 2015, SPOT partnered with Boundary County and the city of Bonners Ferry and started operating a demand response service within Boundary County, with a one-day per week connection from Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint and Ponderay. Recently, Moyie Springs became a funding partner. 

“Together, many Boundary County and Bonners Ferry residents have transportation to health care, shopping and access to many other businesses and services to help them address their needs,” Donna Griffin, SPOT executive director, said. 

In addition, SPOT founders, staff and board members received the Excellence in Inclusive Collaboration Award.  

“Many forward-thinking leaders in our region saw a need for a transit service and came together with resources and a desire to provide safe reliable transportation for visitors and residents,” Griffin said of why SPOT received the award. 

While staff and volunteer organizers initially hoped for 500 rides per week, SPOT provided 21,617 rides in 2011 and by 2023, SPOT was providing 151,833 boardings. In February 2023, Griffin said SPOT achieved another milestone — providing one million free rides since beginning service in June 2011.  

“Cheers to SPOT Bus for implementing a public transportation system that best demonstrates excellence in inclusion, collaboration, and partnerships to deliver outstanding results and accomplishments enriched by diversity,” Griffin said. 

Also receiving awards: 

• Kevin Rickman won the 2024 Hall of Fame Safety Professional Award. Rickman was recognized by fellow staff as a safety leader at SPOT, committed to improving the safety of employees, customers, and the public and attributes his hard work to “caring for the people who want or need safe reliable transportation.”  

Griffin said Rickman is “a genuinely caring, kind and smart — a superstar transportation professional.” Proactive, Rickman is alert for possible mechanical and safety issues, providing feedback and solutions to keep the system’s buses safely rolling. on routes in a timely manner. With more than 30 years of experience as a mechanic — diesel and gas, big and small vehicles — Ricman uses both knowledge and common sense when troubleshooting and diagnosing mechanical issues which saves SPOT enormous amounts of time and money, Griffin said. 

“Vehicle safety, and passenger and driver well-being are at the forefront of his conversations and considerations when determining the operational status of SPOT vehicles,” she added. 

• Clif Warren is the 2024 Hall of Fame Transportation Champion. Warren helped further ITD's Public Transportation Office’s mission to grow Idaho’s mobility network through exceptional customer service and emerging technology.  

Warren, who was the District 1 regional mobility manager for the Community Transportation Association of Idaho, played an integral role in the success of public transit both locally and statewide. Warren worked with Dover to restore some previously abandoned transportation services and, with many community members and leaders who dedicated time and effort, launched SPOT and set the groundwork for its continued success. Along with founders, stakeholders and organizers Randy Curless, Carol Kunzeman, Rick Larkin, Marion Johnson, George Eskridge, Crystal Closson, and many others, Warren helped pull together resources and funding.  

While originally a fare was considered, Griffin said SPOT’s founder designed the system to be free to ensure everyone could access SPOT. Warren worked through an amendment process that allowed SPOT to apply for and acquire Federal Transit Administration funds acquired federal funding and other sources. In addition, he coordinated the purchase of the system’s first buses.  

“He expanded awareness of public transit and other transportation needs. He promoted SPOT Bus through press releases and presenting information to a variety of groups and encouraged involvement of key stakeholders,” Griffin said. “Determined to help this concerted effort to succeed, Clif was the right person, with the knowledge of available resources, at the right time to pull it all together.” 

• Wendy Trumble won the 2024 Hall of Fame Maintenance Award, which is presented to an individual in public transportation maintenance who has gone “above and beyond” their duties to improve maintenance procedures and programs. Griffin said Trumble is always looking for ways to improve driver comfort, passenger safety and the system’s reliability and on-time performance. 

“While our drivers are the face of our beloved SPOT Bus transportation service, our vehicle maintenance is the basis of, and is imperative to, our team’s success in providing our valuable transportation service,” Griffin said. “With safety at the forefront, Wendy continues to implement measures for maintaining our vehicles at a high standard for passenger comfort and dependability.” 

Trumble also won the 2024 Hall of Fame Dispatcher Award, which is presented to a public transportation dispatcher for exceptional performance and customer service.  

“There are few jobs in transportation more immediately demanding and with more responsibility than that of a dispatcher,” Griffin said. “Wendy Trumble does that and more. Part of the duties include dispatching and scheduling — directly overseeing the transportation and safety of hundreds of passengers daily. Wendy works hard to address mapping and routing, as well as scheduling drivers. Wendy’s attention to detail and communication skills — with clarity, compassion and confidence — enhance SPOT Bus’s ability to function efficiently.” 

Information: SPOTBus.org

    Clif Warren accepts his Hall of Fame Transportation Champion award from Idaho Public Transportation Manager Ron Duran.
  

    Kevin Rickman and Wendy Trumble display their awards. Kevin holds his 2024 Hall of Fame Safety Professional Award. Wendy holds two plaques — for the 2024 Hall of Fame Maintenance Award, and the 2024 Hall of Fame Dispatcher Award.