Tweaking Tamarack

The Valley County Connections service has been a great success.  This service is a coordinated effort with the Tamarack Resort.  Our service runs from McCall through Donnelly to Cascade and back again.  At Donnelly riders were able to transfer to a bus going to the Tamarack Resorts.  The end of June will mark a full year of operation.  We are reviewing ridership and checking for efficiencies - as is Tamarack service.  There may be ‘tweaks’ to service, including slight reduction during the ’shoulder seasons’ by Tamarack, etc.  but there will be notice before any of this would be put into effect.  With gas prices rising - our costs are up - but so is the reason to ride public transit.  Hope you are enjoying the service.

Mountain Home City route expansion

February was the launch of the expanded Mountain Home City route. The route was lenghtened from every half hour to a full hour so that the route encompassed more areas to better serve more people in the community. The new brochures are out - they are BLUE - not green (if you have a green one - toss it). The map is on the website as is the new time points. Please feel free to comment as a reply to this post.

The Latest!!

Wow, I have been very lax at keeping up on TVT news. 

On July 2nd TVT, in coordination with Tamarack Resorts, began a service for citizens in Cascade, Lakeview, Donnely and McCall.  The service meets with a shuttle to the Tamarack Resort.  The TVT service begins at 6:15 at McCall City Hall with stops at McCall’s Ridley Market, Lakefork Merc, Donnely’s Roseberry Plaza, Cascade’s Ashly Inn and Harpo’s in Cascade.  This will take one hour and then the route will run in reverse the next hour.  Tamarack will operate a bus with the same stops - starting at 6:15 at Harpos doing the reverse of the stops.  This will provide service every hour.  A schedule will be posted on the website once the times are “tweaked”.  Please call if you have any questions.  This service is called the Valley County Connections.

In Elmore County, we are happy to report that the city council has approved funding for city service in Mountain Home.  The service will continue for another year at least.

TVT is moving into a new location, finally getting a place of their own.  A little more work is to be done - resurfacing of the lot and striping - but we are very excited to have our buses and office in one location.  We hope to be having a “grand opening” soon - I will try to post it on the blog. 

Bus Deviation

On February 28 and March 1 - the Base Route will run an altered route.  This is mandated by the base because of an excersize they are conducting.  I will try to get a map up, or in the very least - the verbal explanation of the route change.

Happy Holidays

Christmas and New Years are approaching.  Christmas means different things to everybody - but we hope it brings happiness and peace to you and yours.  The New Year signifys a new beginning - although any day of your life can be a new beginning if you so chose.  We at TVT hope that the season is all it should be for you.  We appreciate your friendship and patronage.

HOLIDAYS

The bus service will not be running in Mountain Home on Friday November 10 (Veteran’s Day) and Thursday November 23rd and Friday November 24th (Thanksgiving).  

Training Day

One of our trainers, Bill Jordan, just completed a training in Defensive Drivng for Senior Center Drivers throughout the Treasure Valley.   Fifteen people from 13 centers became certified in Defensive Driving on October 31.  We have had 2 senior center drivers receive PASS certification and hope to set up training for more in this.  We have two PASS trainers on staff.  We also offer CPR / First Aid certification.  As the rural transit provider in an eight county area we are doing our part to not only grow transit options, but to do it right.

Mountain Home Fare & Pass increase

Beginning October 1, the fares and passes for Mountain Home and Airbase transportation were adjusted to compensate the shortfall in city funding.  Check the FARES link on the treasurevalleytransit website. 

Added route

There has been an additional hour added to the route.  At 6:00 the base bus will head into the city to pick up students at the Hacker Middle School, the High Shool and Eastside Park.  The same bus will go to the base and drop off at the Convenience Store, BX and the Gunfighters clubs.  The times are still being pinpointed, but watch the blog or website for any update on this.

Demonstration

There was an interesting demonstration held by the capitol in Boise today.  Not the kind with picket signs and protesting - but a demonstration of a street, with 33 single passenger cars and how it looked on the road.  Then how much room those same 33 people would look if they car-pooled - 3 to a car.  Then how much room those same 33 people would take up if they were in van pools at 5 to a vehicle - and finished with all 33 people on one bus.  Then they had the 33 people on foot or bike.  Interesting demonstration.  It was presented by ACHD - Commuteride and VRT.  Channel 7 was on the scene so maybe it will be televised tonight (Tues) if you read this early enough.  I have pictures, and if they turn out good enough, I will post them in the blog in the next day or so.