Dickinson County Supervisors Hear Update From RIDES
Dickinson County Supervisors Hear Update From RIDES
November 17, 2021Steve Schwaller
(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors Tuesday heard an update from RIDES. Chief Operating Officer Cindy Vos says their numbers are back on an upward trajectory after being impacted by the pandemic. Vos says they’re looking at the possibility of expanding some of their services. She was asked about the possibility of offering a fixed route service in the lakes area…
“We have talked about doing fixed routes as well. We’ve also talked about doing more like an Uber, more of a demand-response. Right now the largest population we serve are our elderly and those that can’t drive. So again it’s a matter of having, meeting that demand, and using our funds to the best of our ability to meet the need.”
Vos added RIDES is working with large venues in the area to provide shuttle services during major events…
“We’re in conversation with Arnolds Park right now about doing that next summer when they have the new events center built and they’re going to run into parking issues. We tried it this year. I don’t think it got advertised well enough to be a hit. I do hope that’s a partnership we can continue and that’s exactly what that’s for, is so that we would be, they would use utilize other parking lots, we would shuttle individuals right down to in front of the stage, turn around and go back and pick up the next group.”
On another topic, Vos reported the finishing touches are being put on RIDES’ new bus facility on Peoria Avenue in Spirit Lake, near the fire station. She says the goal is to have it operational this coming December 1st.
