By a 6 to 1 vote, the Union Gap City Council this week agreed to continue offering free transit service under a contract with Tri-City Transportation – despite the cry of some councilors that the city was “duped,” “bamboozled,” and “tricked” into signing the deal.
(See “Bus Fuss” on front page of the Yakima Herald-Republic, Saturday, Jan. 24).
Councilman Roger Wentz voted no Monday, as he did back in July when the council rushed through a measure to terminate a two-year contract with Yakima Transit and sign one with TC Transportation effective Dec. 1.
Changing carriers was the brainchild of Dan Olson, head of Union Gap’s transit committee – and it was all about saving money. Yakima Transit bid $505,704 and TC Transportation came in at $319,760.
It was a no-brainer: TC Transportation got the contract.
But upon further review (something the Union Gap Council failed to do), the bids were like comparing a horse to a rabbit.
Yakima Transit offered, spacious, 32-passenger buses totally ADA compliant for persons with disabilities including those using wheelchairs. The buses are equipped with high tech features such as electronic signage and voice announcements, inter-bus radio communications, a GPS system and on-board video for passenger and driver security.
Yakima Transit provided fixed route service on a 30-minute schedule that put buses at each stop and at the downtown transit center on time. In other words, reliable service. For a fare of 75 cents, passengers can connect to all Yakima routes and even go to Selah and back.
Scores of people – some days more than 100 – daily rode the Union Gap route.
TC Transportation offered 14-passenger buses, smaller shuttle type vehicles with cramped seating and limited accommodations for persons with disabilities or wheelchairs. Passengers ride free on two buses that each ran 12 hours a day.
According to the “Bus Fuss” story, ridership averaged 20 people per day. No wonder. There was a serious problem with scheduling: getting the Union Gap buses to the Washington Avenue stops where passengers could catch Yakima Transit.
There was never any coordination between the two systems. The private Union Gap carrier has no legal authority to drive into the city – the sole jurisdiction of Yakima Transit.
And wouldn’t you know: here comes Yakima’s coldest winter in a decade. Union Gap passengers shivered in bus shelters waiting to board a Yakima bus. According to one source, some passengers ignored Union Gap service altogether and simply walked to the Washington Avenue stops.
Or they quickly learned to gather at Miner’s Drive-In Restaurant on South 1st Street –in the Yakima City limits – and board there.
Miner’s Restaurant now figures in the Bus Fuss and it should be good for their business. Finally heeding complaints, the Union Gap Council decided Monday to make Miner’s the layover stop for all city fixed-route buses thus allowing for more timely connection with Yakima Transit buses.
Wentz cast a no vote – not against Miner’s, but against the entire lashup between Union Gap and TC Transportation.
How bad is the contract?
Union Gap is paying $29 for a dial-a-ride trip one way, or $58 round trip.
Yakima Transit pays $12.50 for a one way dial-a-ride or $25 round trip. The service is provided by Tri-City Taxi, a subsidiary of TC Transportation.
Finally, Union Gap is hardly saving any money. Union Gap paid the Pasco-based firm $32,000 for December services. This compares with an average monthly bill from Yakima Transit of $33,400.
Councilman Olson and TC Transportation COO Ron Davis assured the council and Mayor Jim Lemon that the cost will come down as weather warms and ridership picks up.
But Wentz doesn’t think so. He believes that dial-a-ride costs will continue to eat up much of the hoped-for savings. Wentz believes that persons with disabilities will continue to opt for dial-a-ride service. The ride is more comfortable and convenient.
And it’s free.
One last note: Yakima Transit helps control its dial-a-ride costs through use of modern, spacious ADA compliant buses – vehicles that are comfortable and accessible for many persons with disabilities.