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CTS Board meets in Forks

Published 1:30 am Thursday, September 20, 2018

CTS board member Kevin Gallacci (L) presents Clallam Transit operator David Larrabee with a certificate recognizing him as the winner of the 35-foot Coach Event at the North Olympic Regional Bus Roadeo. Larrabee drives the early shift between Forks and Port Angeles.
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CTS board member Kevin Gallacci (L) presents Clallam Transit operator David Larrabee with a certificate recognizing him as the winner of the 35-foot Coach Event at the North Olympic Regional Bus Roadeo. Larrabee drives the early shift between Forks and Port Angeles.

CTS board member Kevin Gallacci (L) presents Clallam Transit operator David Larrabee with a certificate recognizing him as the winner of the 35-foot Coach Event at the North Olympic Regional Bus Roadeo. Larrabee drives the early shift between Forks and Port Angeles.
Janet Hughes, Forks VFW Auxiliary president, speaks during the public comment period of the Clallam Transit board meeting. Hughes was requesting the board approve an area on the north end of the Transit Center property for a Gold Star Memorial monument. Photos Christi Baron
CTS Board meets in Forks

The facts that ridership is up and Clallam Transit buses are on time 96 percent of the time was just some of the good news shared at the regular board meeting of the Clallam Transit System on Monday, Sept. 17, in Forks. The meeting was held at the Forks city council chambers Monday afternoon.

During the public comment period, at the beginning of the meeting, Janet Hughes, from Forks VFW, requested an area at the Forks Transit Center to be used for a Gold Star Memorial monument. The proposed monument is 13 ft. by 5 ft. by 7 ft. tall with two marble benches. Hughes suggested an area near the north end of the property using a 20 ft. by 20 ft. area. “This is not a war memorial,” Hughes said, “it is for remembering those that gave the ultimate, and their families.”

The proposal seemed well received and the board will look to finalize an agreement. The transit center already has a Blue Star Memorial. The Blue Star Memorial Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. Hughes shared that fundraising is currently underway for the monument.

Transit Operator David Larrabee was recognized for winning the 35-foot Coach Event at the regional Bus Roadeo.

The board took action on a contract for legal services, Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy and Workplace Violence Prevention Policy unanimously approving all.

Kevin Gallacci reported that CTS was awarded 2017 Sales Tax Equalization funds in the amount of $307,251. The 2017 State Audit was discussed as well as the Comprehensive Plan Outreach update and ways to reach the public to find out why people don’t use the bus.

Operations and Planning Manager Steve Hopkins shared information on ridership, sharing that senior ridership is up as well as overall ridership. Several of the new routes, such as the midday run to La Push is up 88 percent over last summer.

The Forks shuttle is also seeing an increase in riders and was used this summer for the summer lunch program for children. Fuel prices and their fluctuation was discussed as to their impact on ridership.

The closing of Serenity House in Port Angeles has caused a decrease in ridership on one particular route and the commuter bus between Port Angeles and Sequim is also doing well.

It was reported that two bus mechanics will be retiring and those positions will need to be filled.

The regular meeting adjourned just after 3 p.m. and the board went into executive session and a closed session for collective bargaining.

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