(Spirit Lake)– An open house and ribbon cutting will be held Thursday for the new RIDES facility in Spirit Lake. Cindy Voss, the agency’s Associate Executive Director tells KUOO news the new 9,800 square foot facility at 2010 Peoria Avenue has been in operation since last December…
“The vision for the building came from a very supportive board of directors for RIDES and the fact that where we were housing the buses before, we were partnering with a church which we are thrilled and thankful for, but it was a dangerous spot for us. There was also a preschool there, and this is also one of our largest service areas as well. So to reduce the risk and to give the drivers a better place ultimately serving our customers better, we chose to build a building here in Spirit Lake.”
Voss says the new facility offers a number of amenities…
“First of all the buses are inside so when the drivers leave early in the morning they’re not scraping which makes it safer and much more comfortable for them and a warmer bus for our passengers when we pick them up early in the morning. We also have a driver’s lounge so there’s an area where the drivers can come in and eat lunch and have really developed some great relationships together from that. We also have a training facility and eventually that facility will be open to the public to rent if someone needs a space to host a meeting or come together for a meeting, and it has all of the great tech stuff that comes with that training space.”
Thursday’s ribbon cutting and open house will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 pm and is open to the public…
“We’ll have a short program at 4:00 pm and then the facility will be open. Come see a bus, visit with the drivers, walk around the facility. We’re going to have some great food here, so love to have everybody come out and get to know RIDES. Sometimes I think we’re kind of a best kept secret so, you know, if you’re thinking about maybe needing RIDES or looking at RIDES for a relative or a parent, please come out and see the facility. We’d love to meet you.”
Voss adds RIDES operations are getting back to normal following some disruptions during the pandemic, and she says masks are no longer required in their vehicles.
