Total ridership this month was 10,238 compared to 9,927 riders in 2016, an overall increase of 3.1%.
The SAM-Gresham route experienced a 5% increase in ridership. The new Shopper Shuttle has experienced 102.5% increase over the first month of implementation in December.
The SAM Estacada route experienced a decrease of 23.4%. Although this is an increase of 24.8% since the largest drop in ridership when changes were made to the route in December of 2016, staff are developing a service plan enhancement for this route. This enhancement will require additional funding and staff are actively involved in submitting grants to supplement some of the outreach and advertising costs.
The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) experienced a 28.9% decrease, a welcome slow to what has been a high demand and under-funded service in recent years. Finally, STAR ridership decreased by 12.3%. The STAR dial-a-ride system has been returned to a same day service when the schedule allows however dispatchers do a fantastic job of routing people to the SAM Shopper when possible.
In July, Sandy Transit received the much anticipated Hometown Trolley. The trolley was purchased using Special Transportation Funding (STF); the cost to the City was $10,639. This “trolley style” vehicle is built on a Ford rail chassis and carries 18-20 passengers and 2 wheelchair stations. It is a low floor vehicle with a Kelderman air system for kneeling, a Braun ramp and no interior steps. The trolley will operate on the SAM Shopper route in-town and be pulled into special events which warrant a shuttle to reduce the numbers of cars on Highway 26. The first run was in the Sandy Mountain Festival parade on July 6. Saturday and Sunday of the festival the trolley operated as a shuttle in an effort to reduce congestion and parking issues. As with most new vehicles, the trolley then returned to the vendor for some minor adjustments and Sandy is still working out some tire rubbing problem in the passenger wheel well but the vehicle has been in service. In collaboration with the Recreation and Library Departments, the trolley will run a shuttle route during an Eclipse Event in a local park.
In collaboration efforts with other Region 1 rural transit agencies, Sandy participated in a “One Call, One Click” workgroup meeting. During the 2017-2019 STF grant process, the STF Advisory Committee voted to obtain grant funding for a “one stop” style system that would allow anyone, especially persons with a disability and/or the elderly, to be able to easily identify their transportation options in Multnomah, Clackamas and Hood River Counties. The funds were awarded and a “One Call, One Click” feasibility study is underway. Also as a collaborative effort, Sandy’s Transit Director joined the Columbia Area Transit District’s selection committee for a new Transit Director in Hood River County. Patty Fink, a transit consultant, was chosen for the position.
Finally, in July, Transit began the hiring process for a new Transit Assistant as Sandy began oversight of Mount Hood Express operations. This new working relationship has already proven worthy of cost efficiency as we implement new approaches to procure stock supplies and mechanical time management.