News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Seniors get their new bus. From left are, Kay Wallace, Joan Sterley, Bob Schryvers, Operational Manager for People to People Jess Railton, and Electric City Councilmember Bob Rupe. The bus was formerly used by People to People and was acquired by Rupe last Friday to use as a senior bus. Roger S. Lucas photo
The seniors now have a bus.
Bob Rupe, Electric City’s representative on the Grant Transit Authority Board had the surplus bus delivered to the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center on Friday.
“It’s a 14-passenger bus, small enough so anyone can drive it,” Rupe stated. Rupe has served on the GTA board previously and stated Friday that when he recently returned to the board “it was like going home.”
The “People to People” bus was used by a contract carrier to help fill bus routes for the GTA.
Rupe said that the donated bus, equipped with a wheelchair lift, might be updated at a later date.
“I understand that we may be able to get a newer bus maybe late this year,” Rupe stated.
The seniors will use the bus for trips to Omak, Wenatchee and Spokane, and other places where seniors want to go.
“The seniors can have one of their own members drive the bus, or arrange for a driver by hiring someone,” Rupe stated.
Rupe was first involved with the GTA in the late 1990s and is serving a second term as an Electric City representative.
Bob Schryvers, who is in charge of the bus for the seniors, said maintenance costs will be paid through the People to People program, and that rides are free for seniors going for medical appointments or on senior activities.
“It’s a community bus, and we haven’t come up with any fee schedule for those riding the bus for non-medical or non-senior activity,” Schryvers noted.
cutline:
Reader Comments(0)