As shown in the chart, COVID 19 continues to impact Sandy Transit ridership. Ridership did show a slight increase in 2021 over 2020, until snow storms hit in December.
During the snow storms, SAM continued to operate, never canceling an entire day. SAM Gresham ran hourly rather than every half hour, SAM rides and Elderly and Disabled out-of-town medical rides were for life sustaining trips only such as dialysis, prescription pick up and cancer treatments. The Shopper Shuttle was suspended for a few days, as people had the option to schedule with SAM rides if it was life sustaining.
SAM and MHX are beginning to experience the driver shortage that many agencies have faced over the past year. TriMet recently reduced service by 9% due to a driver shortage, as well as Sunset Empire on the coast and other agencies across the state. SAM and MHX may be faced with similar difficult decisions if new drivers are not brought on board and trained immediately. Currently, drivers are often faced with 6 work day schedules, a trend that is not sustainable.
A new partnership has been developed between Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Correction to train soon to be released offenders to become Transit drivers upon release. SAM Director, Andi Howell, has been part of this developing project as one of three transit agencies represented. Andi’s role has primarily been to help the Departments of Correction and Transportation understand what training is required and what types of crimes would be unacceptable. SAM’s board had a meaningful and enlightening conversation regarding this program. Done correctly, this program could help fill an urgent need and give released offenders a second chance and a real opportunity for success. All involved also understand the very real and stringent safe guards that must be in place when this project launches.
2022 will be a productive year at Sandy Transit. In January, negotiations with MV Transportation, SAM’s contractor, will begin for contract year 2022 beginning in July. MV Transportation has been the contractor for 2 years and has shown significant improvement in those years with their ability to operate SAM and MHX.
SAM and MHX have also had conversations regarding SAM taking the lead on both contracts as we did in 2020. That proved to be a successful arrangement, led to many efficiencies and a more streamlined administrative model.
SAM will be applying for new grant funding for many capital projects. 2022 may prove to be the year SAM steps toward alternative fuel vehicles, beginning with an all electric SUV to be used as a shift change and service vehicle, sometimes employed to pick up passengers but not very often. Currently SAM uses a hybrid SUV (Ford Escape) for this purpose. SAM has already secured grant funding for the replacement of the Escape from CARES Act funding that requires no local match.
In January, SAM will post an Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new contract for real time arrival information (currently DoubleMap is the vendor) and data collection. The County, Canby Area Transit and South Clackamas Transit District are all included in the RFP to explore savings through the addition of capital equipment purchased and save time for all agencies involved by reducing the need for each agency to go through a procurement process.
All Clackamas County transit agencies continue to work together, meeting weekly, to find ways to collaborate, share successes and develop better services for the region. Many refer to our group of agencies as the Clackamas County Coalition and the strong working relationship we have developed has proven a successful partnership.