Bus riding in Tahoe

unedited 3/09 Tahoe Mountain News

By Kathryn Reed

Tahoe’s bus ridership isn’t like other areas. That was one conclusion from a study that was presented to the transit board in March.
The South Shore’s working class – ages 25-64 – makeup most of the people using BlueGo. Most –73.4 percent -- ride Monday-Friday
Only 12 percent are youth riders. According to transit administrator John Andoh, that number is usually 40 to 50 percent. He attributes Lake Tahoe Unified’s effective bus system for low ridership on public transit.
Of the 503 local surveys, 31.4 percent ride the bus to work, 19.6 percent use it for social-personal trips, 13 percent for school, 12 percent to shop and 9 percent said other.
Andoh said the South Shore presents unique challenges by needing to cater to locals and tourists. Locals are more apt to use the regular BlueGo, while tourists are the predominate riders on the ski shuttle.
Of the locals, 64.1 percent said are dependent on BlueGo and 27.8 percent rely on the ski shuttle.
Three percent of locals using the bus got to a transit stop via a bicycle.
Income facts were reported by 457 local survey takers: 35.2 percent live in households with incomes of less than $10,000 per year, 27.9 percent with household incomes from $10,001-$20,000 per year, 10.2 percent between $20,001 and $30,000, 8.4 percent between $30,001 and $40,000, 5 percent between $40,001 and $50,000, and 12.8 percent earn more than $50,000.
Andoh and the South Tahoe Area Transit Authority will use the 69-page report to address concerns that were brought up as well as plan a marketing strategy. Boosting tourist ridership is likely to be a focal point.
Rider issues include wanting buses to run later, earlier and more frequently.
Andoh is tweaking the schedule to fix what isn’t working either by having buses go on different streets or changing routes. Tahoe Keys route will be changed because it’s not going where riders want to go. The Meyers and Lake Tahoe Community College routes are being praised. The last time Meyers had a fixed route was 1987.
Another survey will be conducted in the fall so the agency has comparable data.
Expect changes at the Y transit center to be finished by the end of June. This includes installing security cameras, restrooms open, a customer service agent seven days a week form 8am-5pm, and an overall sprucing up of the facility.
A permanent transit provider is expected to be voted on in May. MV Transit, the interim agency, is one of three finalists. The others are First Transit and Silverado Stages.
California budget issues are forcing the STATA board to reassess its budget. With the sates eliminating the Transit Assistance Fund, STATA is losing $180,000 this fiscal year and $330,000 next fiscal year. Altering routes and raising fares may be the solution to the setback which totals $400,000 for the next fiscal year.
Two public workshops this month will address the situation. They are April 16 at the South Y Transit Station from 3-5pm and April 17 from 2-5pm at the Stateline Transit Center. The STATA board will have a public hearing May 15 at 10am at 128 Market Street, Stateline and at the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting May 19 at 9am at 1901 Airport Road.
For more details, go to www.bluego.org or call (775) 589-5284.