SENIOR CENTER (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
As part of the Clackamas County Transportation Consortium, Sandy Senior Center is eligible for grant funds through Ride Connection towards purchase of a new lift van. Replacement is based on need combined with a rotation system among the ten county-wide senior centers. The center’s current van was purchased in 2002 and now has over 100,000 miles on it. Many thanks to Julie Stephens, Transit Manager, who diligently waded through the procurement process on behalf of the center.
PARKS
Staff has been working with Jim Slagle of Recreation Trails (who happens to live in Sandy) and Northwest Youth Corps to coordinate work in Sandy River Park. Jim has flagged in an alternate alignment, and the crew will construct the new route, for the steep section of trail closest to the river. The crew will also repair existing trail sections and attempt to channel water run-off away from the trail surface. Completion is targeted for the end of June.
RECREATION (Sarah Richardson)
The Summer Recreation Guide was completed and mailed in May. Some great new summer programs are available for summer 2012. Day camp weeks have also been expanded to provide for families who need options later in the summer.
New programs include improvisation and voice lessons for kids, volunteer days (capped off with lunch and a movie) for tweens and teens, a SandyNet workshop and a new Babysitting class called “Safe Sitter”.
Summer Adult softball teams formed in May and the league is up to 14 teams this season.
TRANSIT (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 24,058, representing an 11% increase over the same period last year. The SAM-Gresham and STAR routes were up by 10.6%, while SAM-Estacada increased almost 16%. The use of ED has tapered to a 16% increase over the same period last year.
This is the first time ridership has hit this level since before significant route changes were made in 2009. Ridership for the year has increased by 5.8% which is also a greater annual increase than we’ve seen in recent years.
Staff continued work with TriMet and the other regional transit providers toward an update of the regional Elderly and Disabled Transportation Plan.
Eighteen participants joined the Transit Adventure to Sellwood to explore the Pendleton and Columbia Sportswear outlet stores.