PORT TOWNSEND — Olympic Bus Lines rolls back into Port Townsend today to fill the transportation void left when Pennco Transportation shut down operations almost a year ago.
Olympic Bus Lines was scheduled to resume picking up riders in Port Townsend again at 7:10 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. today and every day for Kingston, Edmonds, several stops in Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport.
Olympic Bus Lines President Jack Heckman said the service was suspended about two years ago because of lack of ridership.
Then Pennco Transportation, facing financial and insurance problems, ceased operations in May 2005.
Recertified with state
Heckman said Port Angeles-based Olympic Bus Lines recertified with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to again serve Port Townsend. The recertification became effective late last week.
“It’s a pretty small market and there just wasn’t enough business for two entities,” Heckman said.
Riders will be picked up in front of the Safeway supermarket on East Sims Way adjacent to the door to Starbucks Coffee.
Heckman said an agreement was worked out with Safeway, allowing passengers to wait inside the store at tables in the delicatessen area near the Starbucks stand.
Riders will be transported in the 14-passenger, wheelchair-accessible bus to the parking lot near Fat Smitty’s Restaurant on U.S. Highway 101 in Discovery Bay. They will then transfer to the bus from Port Angeles.
“The buses are designed to meet each other, so it should be pretty seamless,” said Heckman.
The one-way rate to Seattle is $39 and round trip is $69. To Sea-Tac, one way is $49 and $79 for a round trip.
Children 15 and younger are half price.