Link Taking Deep Dive into Urban Routes

Link Transit is searching for help in taking a look at the effectiveness of their route system within the Wenatchee valley.

The transit authority is in the process of developing a request for proposals for a consultant to do a deep dive into their urban area routes.

"This is basically a look to kind of see if we are operating the right kind of service." Communications Coordinator Eric West said, "We're looking to see if we need to change some routes so there is more direct service, requiring fewer transfers to get safe from parts of East Wenatchee to parts of Wenatchee."

Since Link transit began service in 1991, the transit authority has done just one of these studies, in 1998.

The conclusions of the previous study were rendered effectively useless, however. The passage of Initiative 695 forced a major reduction in service shortly thereafter.

"Now is the time." West continued, "We have this new revenue available to us since the voters approved (Proposition 1) last summer. Before we really get out in front of ourselves and try to put new routes and more service on the road, we want to make sure what we are operating is the right stuff for people."

West added that Link will look at route structure and timing, and not at removing service.

The process can last a year and a half, so no changes are expected until 2022 at the earliest.