Experimental public bus route to begin

Monday, June 6, Mountain Home Community Transit begins a four-month demonstration program to offer public transportation for downtown Mountain Home and to Mountain Home Air Force Base.

The Mountain Home bus route is designed to connect residents with employment, friends, family, health care options, shopping and recreation activities.

The program has been developed by Treasure Valley Transit, Inc., (TVT) to bring public transportation into rural communities through the Idaho Transportation Department Rural Grant Program. The service will allow youth, seniors and local residents to access the city of Mountain Home as well as a connecting route to the Air Force Base.

Beginning at 6 a.m., the bus will complete the Mountain Home loop every half hour, operating until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one 20-passenger bus traveling to Mountain Home Air Force Base and a second bus providing a fixed route through the city.

From the transfer site on Airbase Road at the corner of S. Haskett, the bus will travel through the underpass up N. 2nd East to Albertson's. It will continue travel along Sunset Strip to the Sunset C Sinclair station, turning east on E. 10th North Street to the senior center and city pool. The bus will turn on N. 6th East, go past the hospital and then onto E. 8th North Street, to Job Service and on to the Public Safety Building (police station) before turning on to American Legion Boulevard, to Wal-Mart. At the intersection of N. 10th East Street, the bus will turn to go to Jackson, with stops at the courthouse and at Paul's, before heading back to the transfer point once more.

Each stop, other than at the transfer point, is a "flag stop." Riders need to "flag" or wave to get the bus driver to stop for pick up and must tell the driver to stop when they are ready to get off.

Buses are handicap equipped and will feature wheelchair tie down as well as bicycle carriers.

The service will be free for the first month, half fare for the second month and full fare after that.

Adults may ride for $.75, youth ages 6-18 years ride for $.50, and seniors/disabled ride for $.25. Riders must have the exact change. Monthly passes will be available. The cash fare for Mountain Home AFB is $2 per rider.

The base route will make the loop every hour. Anyone riding from the Mountain Home transfer point must have proper identification.

The bus will make stops at the main gate, Aardvark and Pine, Burger King, Aardvark and Liberator, Liberator and Phantom, Headquarters, Gunfighter and Desert, Desert and Bryant, Falcon and Sijan, Sijan bus shelter, Sijan and Gunfighter, Mellen and Chestnut, Chestnut and Tamarack, hospital, main gate and return to the transfer point.