Sunshine Transit considers expanded service

Sunshine Transit has been getting people up and down the Spur road for three years. Over the next three years the non-profit program is expanding service into the rest of the upper valley. Lorien Nettleton has more.

[audio:https://ktna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/20111212SunshineTransit.mp3|titles=20111212SunshineTransit]

On December 15^th and December 21^st the Sunshine Van will take 11 passengers from Cubby’s at the Y to Willow. Once the bus reaches Willow, passengers will transfer to a MASCOT bus, which will take passengers the reset of the way to Wasilla for the day, then return them to Willow where they can catch Sunshine back to Talkeetna. The trial run of this new service will only cost passengers $12 round trip. It is the first collaboration between Sunshine Transit and the MASCOT bus lines, and the two are linking together for trial runs to determine whether the route could become a regular service.

Sue Deyoe (Deo), Mobility Manager for Sunshine Transit says, for people with limited transportation, the ticket to ride will go a long way to making life easier.

Clip: “1Sunshine10” 10 sec

         Outcue: “…and get some of the things they need”

One of the aspects Deyoe (Deo) has looked at is how to get people from downtown and along the Spur road to the Y to make the connection to Willow.

Clip: “2Sunshine112” 1:12”

          “There’ll be plenty of room for everybody”

Deyoe has been with Sunshine Transit since September, and has been working to make connections between the communities of the Upper Susitna and the lower valley possible for three months now. The trial service to Wasilla is just one step in a broader transportation plan. Her main task for the next several years is to investigate expanding the service, and determine which routes, and times, would work best for riders.

Clip: “3Sunshine47” 47 seconds

         Outcue: “… hopefully it can continue”

Another feature the service is starting in the next few weeks will be something like a buss pass for students. Deyoe says getting kids to and from activities after school is part of Sunshine Transit’s mission, and they will soon be helping meet mobility needs for kids.

Clip: 4Sunshine

         “… get them home”

Sunshine Transit started out as a volunteer service in March of 2009, and has since come under the umbrella of the non-profit Sunshine clinic. In that time, they were able to ad one new van through State of Alaska appropriations, and a second van is on the way. The new van has been on the roads since June, and has already put on about 26,000 miles. The future van will be wheelchair compliant, and hopefully four-wheel drive, Deyoe says.