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Editorial: BlueGO board should expand the Kingsbury Express route

The BlueGO Kingsbury Express is riding the road to success, and the valuable service might get even better.

The express shuttle, which began operation in early January, is the first new public transportation service for the Lake Tahoe Basin in many years. It fills a critical service area between the Stateline Transit Center and the Gardnerville Skateboard Park, and it is especially convenient in the winter, when traveling can be treacherous.

In its meeting today, the BlueGO Board of Directors will consider adding additional bus stops to its Kingsbury service. Ridership in the first three months of operation has been impressive: 733 for the second half of January, 1,416 in February and 969 in March.



We’re guessing ridership decreased in March because the weather improved, but with gasoline prices skyrocketing, the service should be attractive for the foreseeable future.

The BlueGO board is considering adding bus stops to encourage even more ridership. Additional stops would include The Ridge Tahoe and bus stops along Tramway Drive and Quaking Aspen Lane.



The potential changes, though minor, portend good things for the shuttle service. Board members should implement periodic, incremental improvements that will gradually but steadily increase ridership.

According to John Andoh, BlueGO’s recently appointed transit administrator, the route changes will not affect the shuttle’s run-time schedule. Route changes could not be implemented until June 1 at the earliest, Andoh added.

The board also will consider offering a shuttle route to accommodate dialysis patients from Stateline to a soon-to-open dialysis clinic in Gardnerville. The shuttle would add the stop later this year, Andoh said.

That’s another good idea the board should seriously consider.

The shuttle, which averages seven to 15 riders per bus and can seat 33 people, is the wave of the future. The more BlueGO officials can entice commuters to leave their cars at home, the better off everyone will be.


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