Ridership continues to improve. Total ridership this month was 11,168 compared to 9,940 rides in 2016, an overall increase of 12.4%.
The SAM-Gresham route experienced a 9% increase in ridership. The new SAM Shopper has experienced 245.8% increase over the first month of implementation last December. The Estacada route has also rebounded and increased 18.1% as compared to October 2016. The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) increased by 44%.
STAR is the only route to experience a decrease in ridership, an intended consequence of the SAM Shopper. STAR ridership decreased by 8.8%, from 1160 to 1058. The reduction in ridership has allowed STAR to return to same day service without the need of an additional vehicle and driver.
In October, SAM staff (Andi Howell, Muna Rustam), TAC members (Heather Michet, Joseph Lowe and Roxy Tolva) attended the Oregon Public Transportation Conference in Pendleton. Andi Howell was a presenter at the conference on a school education program Sandy created in which the resulting children’s art is used as the posted “rules” on the SAM Gresham buses.
Andi and Muna also participated in the State Roadeo as judges. Two SAM drivers, Brain Jensen and Ben Smith, competed in the Roadeo. Brian received a perfect score on the wheelchair securement test and 3rd on the written exam. Ben placed 3rd on pre-trip inspection section of the competition. Both drivers were excellent representations of the professional, well trained drivers who work for RoJoy Services on behalf of the City.
During October, Andi Howell participated on the Estacada Technical Advisory Committee as part of the Bike/Ped improvement plan. This plan will become a subset of the existing Transportation Services Plan. Andi also participated on a statewide panel, the 5311 work group, to discuss the current process of disseminating these federal funds, including method, factors used in the allocation process and performance measures. These funds are a vital source of revenue for all rural transit agencies as well as the most stable. Both the Estacada TAC and the 5311 work group will continue into November.
Plans for 2 new bus barns at the Sandy Operations Center continue. Staff from ODOT Rail and Public Transit and the Highway division visited the Operations Center to better understand the project and begin the Scope of Work to move the project along. The plan is to begin construction by spring 2018.
Finally, in a partner update, Mount Hood Express services began chaining vehicles as of October 1. The bike trailers have been removed from service and ski boxes have been affixed to the back of the buses for the winter season.