(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors this (Tues.) morning heard an annual report and funding request from RIDES. Cindy Vos, Associate Executive Director, says the regional transit provider once again saw a high volume of riders in Dickinson county for the past fiscal year…
“RIDES is honored to have served the communities of Dickinson county providing 28,653 one way trips in FY ’23, that is an increase of over 6,000 from our FY ’22 year which was at 22,647. This number, which is the one I’m excited to share, includes our desire to try and really be a really great community partner and what that means is we did just under 10,000 complimentary trips this past year. Meaning that we partnered with Arnolds Park Amusement Park, the DNR, Lakeside Lab, local daycares and preschools, and the Pearson Lakes Arts Center. We transported individuals that were here for events they held.”
Vos says across its service area, RIDES recorded 92,724 revenue miles this fiscal year at an operating cost of about $800,000. She says RIDES plans to offer a new convenience in the coming year that will involve healthcare providers and other facilities…
“They’ll be able to log on and schedule a trip for their patients themselves. And what that means is if you work for the doctor’s office and I as Cindy Vos go to the doctor and I need a follow up appointment in four weeks, that staff member behind the desk is not only going to be able to schedule me for my follow up trip to the doctor, but also my bus trip at the same time. It will reduce no shows for our medical clinics, and so we’re excited to partner with them about that.”
Vos added RIDES is also implementing a new service in cooperation with Enterprise and the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation that will allow them to provide workforce transportation services. Meanwhile, she says they do have some funding concerns stemming from a delay in getting reimbursements from the state…
“The state office has been short staffed and we are into the six digit figures several times behind what we should be receiving from them, so it’s a struggle and we are really kind of, we look good on paper right now. I do have concerns about moving forward until they get things straightened out.”
Vos didn’t have the figures with her at today’s (Tues.) meeting, but she estimates RIDES is owed some $250,000 to $300,000 in reimbursements.
