Friendly Rider reports ridership increase

As part of a request for approval to write a grant, Friendly Rider Director Ryan Damlo told Wadena commissioners at the Jan. 17 board meeting that the Wadena transit program of Friendly Rider buses served 20 percent more riders in 2016 than they had in 2015. By their count, Friendly Rider provided 5,403 rides in 2016.

The ridership increase and the addition of two routes, the State of Minnesota has provided a sixth bus for Friendly Rider to use. Two additional part-time drivers have been hired to help cover the expanded program.

According to a private email received from Damlo, the new bus will be placed in service in mid-February and will run primarily Monday through Friday in the City of Wadena. It will also be used to add Friendly Rider service to New York Mills, Bluffton, and Deer Creek by early March.

The Friendly Rider bus transportation program now extends from Browerville in Todd County, up Hwy 71 through Wadena County to Sebeka and Menagha, east on Hwy. 10 to Motley, and west on Hwy 10 to New York Mills. Hundreds of people ride the buses each week for work, medical appointments, shopping, and other destinations.

The grant that Damlo is working on will be written in cooperation with Region 5 and directed to NJPA for three-years, $100,000 Innovation Funding to add wi-fi service on six transit buses and three school buses. Commissioners approved Damlo’s request to submit the grant application.

In other business, the board

o Heard monthly reports from Social Services

o Approved an agreement with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to allow Social Services to perform background checks on clients using BCA systems and tools.

o Discussed what the next step should be for the environmental scan process, now that the report has been received from consultant Michelle Soldo.

o Heard Chair Dave Hillukka’s recommendations for committee and liaison assignments for 2017.