The White Mountain Connection bus service began in 2009 and has been in operation three years.
“It’s still in its infancy,” said Pete Erlenbach, grant and public transit coordinator for the City of Show Low, who was in attendance at the June 6 Taylor Town Council meeting to give a brief overview of the service and seek the town’s support for it. He left with a promise of that support.
He said that originally the cost share was $9,706, but however Navajo County used its Local Transportation Assistance Fund (LTAF) money and paid all partners’ shares. There will be no more LTAF money, so Navajo County officials are asking that this year the county pay the 40 percent originally asked of it and the six other partners, including Northland Pioneer College, Pinetop/Lakeside, Show Low, Taylor, Snowflake and Holbrook, each pay 10 percent, which would be $5,916 a year.
“The county has been very gracious in picking up everybody’s local cost share, so it’s been out of site, out of mind,” said Erlenbach. “If we want White Mountain Connection to survive, we’ve got to make that commitment to continue to fund it on a cost share basis.”
Erlenbach noted that the Holbrook City Council decided not to fund the bus service and has not taken any action to re-introduce the issue, and Snowflake is still undecided. “They may go with the direction of the majority, but it remains to be seen,” he said.
Erlenbach had researched the information and had annual reports for all bus services throughout the state.
Councilman Shawn Palmer suggested the rates be increased, but Erlenbach explained that to realize a $2 benefit, the rate would have to be raised $4.25, because ADOT takes 58 percent of the fares since it provides the bulk of the cost.
Councilman Alan Ramage asked if they had looked into grants to support this due to the poverty rates. He was told that this is under a federal grant and you can’t get another federal grant for the project.
“How does Holbrook opting out affect the total everyone else pays?” asked Mayor Fay Hatch.
Erlenbach said they haven’t figured that out yet.
He noted that Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) students ride the bus to Holbrook.
In response to a question posed by Town Manager Eric Duthie, Erlenbach said that they have purchased shelters and will install them if the bus service continues.
He also noted that they are looking for another location in Taylor other than Bashas’ for the bus to stop.
Mayor Hatch asked Finance Director Gus Lundberg about the finances, and Lundberg said that Taylor has a reserve of LTAF money that could be used for this.
“I want you to be clear in your mind, that we have not put any money forward for the first three years,” said Duthie. “The county has been paying that.” He also pointed out that they are now asking for less money than they did originally.
Linda Cahoon, who rides the bus, told council members how much she has benefited from the bus, noting there are 28 to 30 seats and maybe five or six passengers get on the bus in Show Low; the remainder are from the Snowflake-Taylor area and ride to Holbrook. “Some of the riders have a choice,” she said, “Riding the bus allows me to live here and raise my kids here, and work in Holbrook.” She pointed out that five students from Holbrook’s NCIS alternative school ride the bus from the Snowflake-Taylor area.
“In order to help grow, the word needs to be out there,” said Charlotte Yazzie, who also rides the bus. She noted that there is no mention of the bus or its schedule on the Chamber of Commerce website. She also pointed out that advertising money is not taken by ADOT and there’s plenty of room to grow in that respect.
“The money that I save by being able to take the bus makes a huge difference in the amount I spend here in Snowflake and Taylor,” Yazzie continued, noting that if she couldn’t take the bus, that money would come out of her grocery money or money used in local restaurants.
Yazzie also pointed out the safety of riding the bus, noting they pass accidents and without the bus, the number of vehicles on the road would increase. She said when she leaves her job and is tired, she doesn’t have to drive, and in bad weather she’s glad to have the bus to bring her home safely.
She said she felt that they could do more in getting the word out that there is a bus available, and suggested bus schedules be posted.
Charity Begay works in Pinetop and rides the bus to Bashas’ in the afternoon, where she waits for her ride home. She said there are a lot of people who ride the bus to the hospital or to shop at Walmart in Show Low.
Joseph Donnelly said that from the point of view of a local business owner, they get a lot of people from Show Low and Holbrook who use the bus, and people who fly into the Show Low airport use the bus to stay at local hotels and eat at our restaurants.
A motion to approve funding for the White Mountain Regional Connector bus service passed unanimously.
