Citylink comments to be accepted

Five open house meetings remain to encourage discussion about proposed changes to public transportation in Kootenai County.

The meetings will be:

- Wednesday, 3-4 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Library

- Friday, 1-2 p.m., Hayden Library

- Monday 3-5 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Library

- April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 1A and 1B, Kootenai County Administration Building.

Testimony about the proposed changes will be also be taken during the public hearing held before the county commissioners on May 2 at 6 p.m. in Rooms 1A and 1B in the Kootenai County Administration building, 451 N. Government Way.

Change proposals to Citylink to be discussed include, but are not limited to: routes, stops, hours of operation, a cashless fare system, concept design of a transit center.

Citylink rides are proposed to go from free to having a fee of $1.50 for urban fixed routes and $3 for paratransit service.

Fares are needed for a system that is "reliable, financially sustainable and equitable," a recent analysis released by Kootenai County, referring to the reason behind the fare proposals.

Rides have been free since 2005.

The fares would not pertain to the Citylink rural routes, including to the Coeur d'Alene Casino.

There would be discounted passes available for seniors and those with qualifying disabilities.

The proposed route changes include making the Post Falls route (B) a clockwise direction and, due to rider requests, adding stops at the Post Falls Senior Center and Post Falls Food Bank.

A proposed new A Route would run clockwise and cover downtown Coeur d'Alene with two stops on Hubbard Street near North Idaho College; Sherman Avenue at 16th, 21st and 23rd streets; on Ironwood in front of Shopko and the current Kootenai Health stop at 921 Ironwood.

The revised C Route (Coeur d'Alene/Dalton Gardens/Hayden) would no longer serve downtown. It would run clockwise only with new stops at Wilbur and Ramsey; Courcelles and Prairie; Government Way and Anton; Panhandle Health; Government and Hattie; Shopko and in the hospital district. The Pinegrove and Hanley stop would be eliminated.

All questions and comments will be welcomed at the meetings. Written comments are encouraged.

For more information about the meetings, call 446-1616.

For special accommodation/translation services, individuals can call 446-1616 at least 48 hours in advance of any meeting.