Click photo to enlarge

Neleen Fregoso, the manager of the Humboldt Transit Authority, faced over 20 disgruntled elders at the Healy Senior Center in Redway on Wednesday, December 9. Neleen came with her assistant, Consuelo Espinosa, bringing brochures, schedules and qualifying forms in hopes of getting people ready and onboard for the new system set to start up in January, but the majority of those in the room who spoke were most interested in keeping what they have now - the Quail bus.

The Quail bus takes its riders pretty much wherever they want to go and several of those present made it clear that they felt what they were getting was not as good as what they already have but are soon to lose. They are concerned that the new bus will not be like the Quail.

”It will be the same bus,” Fregoso said. “Nothing will be different.”

But then she went on to say that there was one difference, the new Quail will have to abide by the ADA guidelines for providing this particular type of transit service. Some current riders may not meet that standard because they are not old enough or disabled enough to require door-to-door transportation services. These individuals, Fregoso said, will be served by the commuter system, the straight through to Fortuna and Eureka buses that will be running daily, and the circulation bus that will pick up people as far north as Miranda and provide them with transportation several times a day to Redway and Garberville.

She said that the new bus will be labeled as a “medical, nutrition service.” The new service will take passengers to medical appointments and to the Healy Senior Center Service, and on Tuesdays the bus will take qualifying patients to Fortuna and Eureka to go grocery shopping at Winco. It won’t take them to the mall.

Fregoso laid it out for the Quail supporters that their efforts needed to be directed at either convincing the Healy board of directors to buy the Quail bus from the county for a dollar and become a transportation provider for elderly people in the same way that Community Cornerstone provides transportation for its clientele. The Healy’s interest in keeping the Quail bus is to get people to participate in their senior lunch program. The senior lunch once attracted as many as 30 people to a lunch, but the numbers have been steadily declining. Quail ridership to the Healy lunch ranges from two riders to as high as five or six riders, according to Quail driver Jan Riber.

”The Quail can stay on if you guys really want it,” Fregoso said, “but it will need a different source of funding. Herb Schwartz says that there’s a lot of funding out there. Somebody has got to secure that funding and start the Quail back up again. It’s doable if you can find the money to do it.”

The money Fregoso has to spend cannot be used to fund the Quail. There was some discussion about the viability of the Quail when Fregoso said that the Quail had not met its required ridership in several years. This newspaper, for instance, has written several articles about the need to beef up the ridership on the Quail, and also articles encouraging more people to eat lunch at the Healy Center.

”There’s nothing right now that will save the Quail,” Fregoso said, “except a different funding source.”

The idea that the Quail bus can’t be funded through the TDA or Transportation Development Act did not sit well with the Quail supporters. Quail rider and supporter Grace Lindsley brought “Save the Quail” petitions with 700 names on them. Fregoso said that petitions like that would impress any granting agency, should the Healy pursue the idea of becoming a transportation provider.

Several of the speakers expressed anxiety about having to deal with the public transit system in Fortuna and Eureka. It’s unfamiliar territory to many. Fregoso had planned to bring down a bus and give free rides to those at the meeting, but that didn’t happen. Free rides are anticipated to be available for everyone when the new system starts up and it may be necessary to provide some instruction in how to access the public transit system (ride the bus) to get where you want to go.

Fregosa said that they have done their best to keep the fares low. Fares on the commuter system will be $1.25 one way or $1 if you qualify for the reduced, over 63 or under 17 fare. The bus will cruise Redway making a square, turning off Redwood Drive onto Redway Drive and swing around to Briceland Road where it will make a right turn onto Briceland Road and a stop at the Healy. Besides the Healy, the buses will stop at Redway Drive/Briceland Road intersection, at Redway and Oak, Redway and Whitmore, the Redway Shell station and at Shop Smart.

In Garberville, the bus will arrive on Redwood Drive, turn left on Conger, and then continue on Locust to Melville where it makes a right and returns to Redwood Drive.

The bus will stop at the corner of Locust and Conger, at Locust and Oak, and across from the Waterwheel on Redway Drive.

The Avenue of the Giants route begins at the old junior high school in Miranda, runs along the Avenue to Phillipsville and then to Redway. The bus will stop at the Phillipsville Fire Department and at the Post Office. In Miranda it will stop at the old junior high, South Fork High School and the Miranda Market.

Fregoso said that plans are underway to provide bus shelters at Miranda and Phillipsville and other places. She said that crosswalks will be required at bus stops so people can cross streets safely.

There was some skepticism expressed as to whether or not anyone here would choose to ride a bus over driving their own vehicle. Fregoso said that she has received many requests for public transit in Southern Humboldt and people have expressed a desire for the same level of transit service that is available in the north from Trinidad to Scotia.

photo: Neleen Fregosa of Humboldt Transit Authority answers questions at the Healy Senior Center.