Scott Swanson
In response to increased demands for local bus service, Linn Shuttle is adding routes and synch-ing its runs so that local residents can travel as far as Corvallis on public transportation.
“We’re starting earlier and running later,” said Ken Bronson, manager of the bus system. “The big deal is that we’re connecting Corvallis and Lebanon by matching our two systems.”
Ridership by students has flattened over the last year, but the numbers for the general public have gone up, he said.
Total ridership on all three systems run out of Sweet Home – Linn Shuttle, Dial-a-Ride and transportation services for developmentally disabled residents in the area – was 83,406 for the fiscal year that ended June 30. That’s up from 79,852 the previous year.
Ridership on Linn Shuttle itself rose about 3 percent. The buses currently run from Foster to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany and back six times a day.
As of Monday, Sept. 16, the shuttle hours will be expanded, though there will still be six runs a day. The first bus will leave at 6:25 a.m. and the last will return 7:25 p.m.
Also, Bronson said, all trips to Albany will follow Highway 34 rather than traveling Highway 20 between Lebanon and Albany. Plus, the new schedule will synch better with Linn Benton Loop buses running to and from LBCC to Corvallis.
“Eliminating Highway 20 increases the opportunity to link with Linn Benton Loop and eliminates a dangerous highway with poor visability,” Bronson said.
In Albany, buses will travel from LBCC to the train station, then to Heritage Mall, then downtown Albany and back to LBCC.
In addition to the six runs a day between Sweet Home and Corvallis, with the stops in Lebanon and Albany, Linn Shuttle also will continue its three express routes, which run in the morning and evening between Lebanon and LBCC.
“Express is designed for that LBCC traffic and people who want to go on to Corvallis,” Bronson said. “One of the big things is that riders will be able to transfer from Linn Shuttle to Linn-Benton Loop, and go seamlessly from Sweet Home to Corvallis.
With those changes, the buses will make stops at LBCC in Albany 17 times a day, instead of the current six.
Oregon State University and LBCC students can travel for free the length of the combined systems because their student fees cover bus fares. Fares are $1 one way for non-students.
“We’re trying to match it up so if you are an OSU student living in Sweet Home or Lebanon, you can get to the main campus and return,” Bronson said.
He said he’s interested in hearing from customers about the changes.
“People can come into our office (at the Sweet Home Community Center) and view the schedule, or they can view it online (at http://www.linnshuttle.com) or e-mail me with their comments,” he said.