Students commuting to Linn-Benton Community College from East Linn County communities may now ride the Linn County Shuttle free of charge by showing a current LBCC identification card.
The college signed an agreement earlier this month with Senior Citizens of Sweet Home, Inc., which runs the Linn County Shuttle service, to provide an annual subsidy to cover the fares for its students who use the shuttle. January 16 is the official start date for the free service.
“It makes it much easier for East Linn students to take classes,” said the college’s Dean of Student Services Diane Watson.
The Linn County Shuttle currently runs a bus five times daily, Monday through Friday, between Sweet Home and the main campus, with stops in Lebanon and Albany. A second bus offers two daily runs from Brownsville, with stops in Halsey, Shedd and Tangent. For a printed schedule, call the Sweet Home Senior Center, (541) 367-4775 or pick up a copy at the LBCC Albany Center.
Students may catch the Sweet Home bus at the Sweet Home Senior Center, Lebanon Wal-Mart, Lebanon Senior Center, 2nd and Broadalbin Street transit stop in Albany, and the Target Store in Albany. The Brownsville-Halsey bus may be boarded at the Brownsville Senior Center, Jerry’s in Brownsville, Halsey Select Market, Shedd Market, Tangent City Hall, and Cenex Store in Tangent.
According to Sweet Home Senior Center Director Jean McKinney, the Linn County Shuttle will acquire two new buses in April. The new Sweet Home bus will carry 29 passengers, the new Brownsville bus 22; both buses will have wheelchair lifts. The Linn County Shuttle is funded by a portion of the state cigarette tax allocated to elderly and handicapped transportation systems. It also provides transportation for clients of three Sheltered Workshops in Linn County, Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center in Lebanon, Sunshine Industries in Sweet Home and Center Enterprises in Albany.