Link Transit Budget to Increase in 2022, Bring Expanded Bus Service

Link Transit is getting a 12 percent increase in funding in the New Year thanks to approval of its new $21.7 million budget.

The increase will be used to offer new routes and more frequent service, which adds up to 10,000 additional service hours on fixed routes.

Link Finance Manager Nick Covey says the full expansion will not take place immediately because they're having trouble finding enough new bus drivers.

"We're probably going to do about half that based on the number of drivers we currently have and the number we plan to hire by July 1st," said Covey.

Ridership at Link Transit is back up to three-quarters if its pre-pandemic level, although high school and student ridership continues to be down.

The new boost to the 2022 budget will allow for more frequency to bus service in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, which will drop intervals between stops from 30 minutes to 15 minutes on a number of routes.

There will also be new express bus service between Wenatchee and Leavenworth, which will speed up the travel time.

"It'll just stay on the highway," said Covey. "It won't deviate of the highway at all.  So it will just be more comparable to your car, and it'll go right up from Leavenworth right up Miller to the hospital and right back down to Columbia Station,"

Link has also earmarked $9.6 million for capital projects in the new budget.

It includes three new electric buses to replace diesel-powered coaches, which will bring Link's electric fleet to 15 buses.

Link still uses 12 diesel commuter buses for the Leavenworth and Chelan services, because the distance is too far for current electric battery capacity.

The transit is also partnering with the city of Leavenworth and the Washington State Department of Transportation to build a roundabout on U.S 2 and Icicle Road in Leavenworth.

In addition, money for capitol projects includes improvements to South Wenatchee Ave., improved lighting of crosswalks on Grant Road in East Wenatchee, more bus shelters and pullouts for buses on the Goodwin Bridge.

The 2022 budget projects that Link’s revenue will exceed its spending by $4.2 million, although overall revenue is expected to be down. 

The transit's funding is largely generated from its portion of Chelan and Douglas County sales taxes, with a smaller percentage coming from federal grants.  Federal funding is projected to increase by 28 percent in 2022.