Link Transit looks to extend weekend service to Chelan

CHELAN — Link Transit hopes to run its Wenatchee-to-Manson buses later on Saturdays and Sundays next summer and is considering a separate local route as Chelan grows, CEO Don Billen told the Chelan City Council on Sept. 22.

The later weekend trips would be added to Route 21, which connects Wenatchee, Chelan and Manson. Billen described it as one of Link’s higher-ridership routes. It generally runs hourly on weekdays and also operates on weekends.

Farther out, Link is considering a route between Manson and Chelan’s Apple Blossom area, where Billen expects residential growth to create demand. He said buses take about two years to order, putting that service several years away.

“We see a market coming there,” Billen said.

Link recently restored Route 20 between Wenatchee and Chelan through Orondo. Billen said the route is helping Orondo students travel to activities in Chelan. Ridership has also grown on Chelan’s Dial-a-Ride Transit service, known as DART, particularly this year.

Across Link’s system, a 40% increase in service funded by a voter-approved sales tax increase has been followed by a 44% increase in ridership, Billen said. The added service includes more Saturday trips and new Sunday service.

“Ridership has grown faster than we have added service,” he said.

Billen said Link wants to add signs showing real-time bus arrivals at the Chelan City Hall stop, which he identified as the busiest stop in town. He praised the city’s partnership with Link on bus stop improvements: When Chelan has undertaken trail and street projects, Link has funded stop upgrades alongside that work.

“We’ve had a great partnership on bus stop improvements,” Billen said. He said Link wants to continue that work and has discussed making the highway stop near the community center safer for people traveling to and from the facility.

Councilmember Shane Collins asked whether Link might eventually base buses in Chelan so service could leave earlier and return later, rather than beginning and ending operations in Wenatchee. Billen said current service does not yet warrant a Chelan operations facility, though Link will continue to watch demand.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media