Editor,

I attended the Island Transit board meeting on May 22 when the board approved cutting the state-funded connector service between Whidbey Island and March’s Point in Skagit County.

The state will cut the funding in June because IT does not charge fares. IT does not have sufficient ongoing sales tax revenue to continue this service into Skagit County without cutting services to Island County residents.

The net cost of providing the connector is more than $200,000 a year.

IT should charge fares, but how much should be charged, for which routes? Seniors? Students? Disabled? The fixed costs of a fare box are $1,400 per bus and $30,000 for office equipment. Costs of implementing an automated system are huge — $20,000 per bus plus about $80,000 for office computers.

The numbers were reviewed at the May meeting.

In addition, collecting fares will only cover between 10-20 percent of the operating costs based on the experience of other rural transit districts.

Projected revenue and expenditures for the next 18 months were discussed at the meeting. Handouts and overheads were available which made it perfectly clear that free bus service is not a viable option; nevertheless, some members of the public still lobbied for free service.

Obviously, public meetings need to be held to discuss the changes.

In my opinion, the new IT Board is driving in the right direction. Let’s be patient but vigilant.

Linda Thom

Coupeville