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New route to serve towns along Highway 210 east
Published Saturday, April 26, 2008
Steve Skauge
A new bus route along Highway 210 will serve employees who commute to work in Fergus Falls. Thanks to a Department of Transportation grant, Productive Alternatives will begin offering Otter Tail Express rides on Monday to those living in Henning, Vining, Clitherall, Battle Lake and Underwood.
Before the decision was made to offer services along the 210 corridor from Fergus Falls to Henning, electronic and paper surveys revealed there was a demand.
“We certainly recognize there are a lot of people who live in those communities and work in Fergus Falls,” said Steve Skauge, president of Productive Alternatives.
Busses will leave Henning at 6:45 a.m. and, after making scheduled stops, will arrive in Fergus Falls by 8:00 a.m. Although this means commuters may have to set their alarm back to catch a ride, Skauge is confident that travelers will see the benefits of the deal.
“We feel our timing is right with the ever increasing gas prices.”
Buses will drop commuters off at the front door of workplaces. Plans for picking them up at the end of the work day will be determined by the schedules of those riding the bus.
Skauge said in order for the program to work, employers and employees will have to be willing to work with the bus schedule.
“We hope there is a spirit of situation,” he said. “We’re going to give it a shot.”
Based on survey response, there should be enough interest to keep the program running indefinitely, said Skauge. However, if things start out slow, they will continue to offer the program throughout the year, in hopes that residents will catch on.
Productive Alternatives has purchased an extra bus for the route and has hired additional employees to handle the run. One-way tickets from Henning to Fergus Falls will be sold for $3.50, tickets from Clitherall and Battle Lake will be $3.00 and rides from Underwood will be $2.50. Monthly discounted passes will eventually be available for those using the service. Designated bus stops have been determined. Commuters are welcome to park and ride.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by wcnine (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a good idea but the one way ticket prices will doom it to failure. You can still drive a personal vehicle for approx. the same cost but have the convience of leaving when you want and returning when you want. I believe for this to be a success it will have to be subsidized more.
Posted by Clara (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps cost and convenience aren't the real issues here. I hope there isn't a subsidy. I'd like to believe that people will participate for the right reason; using less fuel.
This would be great opportunity for employers to get on the energy-saving bandwagon and do something to encourage ridership.
Posted by Elsi (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm...
If I ride from Underwood, it's $5/day - so if I ride 5 days per week, it's $25. Gas is probably going to be $4/gallon. I might save $1/day in gas by driving myself (if I get 20 miles to the gallon) - but gas is not the only vehicle expense. Also, the convenience would be a huge plus. I like this idea and hope it catches on.
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would strongly recommend one more stop, as long as it's the 210 east route. Why wouldn't they include Wall Lake, with all the year round homes. There would be as many peaple in that area as any of the other towns they mention. This was also strongly recommended on their survey!
Posted by PeterJennen (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand this is a government subsidised operation. It can't run on what it is generating.
I'm sorry to say, I do not see these buses as being effecient. I spend a lot of time on the road and see these buses often. There is usually only the driver or the driver plus one passenger in the bus. It is the same down in Grant County.
I would rather see the government issue coupons that riders could use with the existing taxi services, including Care-A-Van, which use smaller vans that get three times the m.p.g. instead of funding People's Express.
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