Clallam Transit faces more riders than ever — as revenues dip

Published 4:16 am Tuesday, August 19, 2008

By Jim Casey, Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES — The riders on the bus go up and up, but the tax revenues for the bus go down and down.

Meanwhile, plans for both the bus and its riders go ’round and ’round with some results becoming public — all through the town — in September.

Clallam Transit System commissioners Monday received these mixed messages from their staff:

July’s fixed-route ridership was up almost 30 percent over the same month in 2007, General Manager Terry Weed said.

“My pretty solid guess is that’s the biggest month we’ve ever had,” he said.

“It’s a little scary when you realize that July is generally the slowest month.”

Commissioner Bryon Monohon said it will be “interesting” to see what ridership will be when students return to classes next month.

Sales tax revenue to the transit agency, however, was below budget by $60,285 — 13.1 percent — said Jamie Collier, finance administrator.