Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Center offers many opportunities to stay active each month: Tai Chi, Flex & Stretch, hikes and other trips. June saw the start of a Wii Bowling League in the auditorium. It began with five participants and is sure to grow over the months.
Parks
Last minute planning took place up until go time for the Longest Day Parkway. The first-ever active transportation event was a huge success with the entire City Council, the City Manager & Department Directors and many, many City Staff on hand to ensure a good (and safe–we love Sandy PD!) time was had by all. Thanks to the Library staff for their expert accounting method clocking between 250 & 300 participants for the evening. Families turned out in force to travel the route and pick up information and freebies from each City Department.
The 11th annual Noah’s Quest 5/10k Walk & Run took place on June 25th. Around 150 people joined in the morning’s activities at Sandy Bluff Park.
Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Preparation for the Mountain Festival kids’ events was in full swing and summer programs launched. Field trips are offered most Thursdays and include excursions to Bullwinkles and Oaks Park.
Adult Softball kicked off mid-month with 10 enthusiastic teams. They are excited to play on the top-notch Sandy High School varsity & jv fields.
Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,005. SAM continues to see a decrease in ridership with the exception of E&D rides. Overall ridership decreased by 11.4%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 11.9%. STAR rides decreased by 10.7%. SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 12%. The Elderly and Disabled program saw another large increase in ridership of 42.7%.
An analysis of ridership trends and the rise in E & D riders led SAM to apply for and obtain funding for a new deviated route. This route has been funded through the STF discretionary program to provide a circulator route. It is designed as an augment to the STAR dial-a-ride program and will serve as a feeder service into the main fixed route in the commercial corridor. In June, SAM staff and the Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) tested and compared low floor bus options for the route, discussed roll out timelines, route destinations, times, schedules and outreach material.
Ridership and bus replacements are top priorities for SAM. SAM has procured a 35’ transit bus to replace a 2008 that has surpassed its useful life. The transit manager met with bus personnel at the factory for a 2-day pre-production meeting. Touring the facility was insightful and lead to a few small changes in the final design request. The vehicle is scheduled for production in January of 2017 and SAM is anxious to receive it. SAM continues to explore funding options for 3 more heavy duty transit vehicles.
SAM and MHX applied for a continuation of funds through a Federal Highway Administration Program, referred to as FLAP (Federal Land Access Program). Funding approval would maintain SAM’s current early Saturday morning and all day Sunday service. These runs serve as vital connector links between the Mount Hood Express system and the greater metro region. The additional service has seen a steady growth in ridership since implementation. The FLAP grant is also the primary funding source for Mount Hood Express.