December 2002 Fact Sheet
At This Point In Time
For the past four months, the Skamania County Public Transit Feasibility Study (SCPTFS) has focused on collecting information about the current availability and need for public transportation services in and around the area. Many citizens, businesses, social service agencies, and school districts have shared their thoughts through telephone surveys, focus groups, web site feedback, and interviews. Based on the gathered data, the SCPTFS Steering Committee can now develop a series of public transportation alternatives for public review in February 2003.
What We Have Learned
In our telephone survey of close to 300 Skamania residents, we heard:
- Almost 75 percent of the community believe Skamania County needs more public transportation services such as a demand-responsive system for the transportation disadvantaged including the elderly and disabled and after-school services for children.
- Those under 65 are more likely to have transportation problems than those 65 and older. They are 60 percent more likely to miss trips for personal business than are those 65 and older.
- Between 5 and 10 percent of the people in Skamania County have missed important life activities because of lack of transportation.
Trip Purpose
Destination Percent of Total Shopping 40% Work 24% Social 11% Personal Business 8% Medical 7% School 6% Meal Site 2% Drive Someone 1% Don't Know 1% What Locations Should Transit Serve?
Most Frequent Selections Destination* Percent of Total Portland 49% Vancouver 48% Hood River 47% Stevenson 22% White Salmon 22% Carson 15% The Dalles 14% North Bonneville 6% Gresham 6% * most frequent = more than five
percent of the sampleSpeaking with senior citizens and people with disabilities, we learned:
- Many people find their quality of life affected by lack of transportation to activities they would otherwise like to pursue.
- Skamania County Senior Services does an excellent job providing transportation to medical appointments.
- Transportation to anything but medical appointments is a real problem for many people. Seniors noted that they have limited options to get places for social activities.
In our focus group with social service agencies, we understood:
- Some clients have a difficultly getting to jobs even within the county. They must rely on others to get them there.
- Clark Community College offers programs for people reentering the job market but many people in Skamania County cannot attend because of lack of transportation.
- Some youth have no way to get to Skamania County’s recreation and events programs.
School district representatives told us:
- They are unable to provide after-school activities transportation and therefore, some students do not have the opportunity to participate.
Comments Welcome
If you have comments, questions, or would like to review the Skamania County Telephone Survey Results and Findings please visit us here, or call Senior Services at:
509-427-9466
and mention the Skamania County Transit Study
To express your view, to ask questions about the planning process, or to be placed on the mailing list, please contact us using the Feedback section on this site.
SCPTFS Planning Partners:
Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation
City of North Bonneville
City of Stevenson
Port of Skamania
Skamania Chamber of Commerce
Skamania County
Skamania County Senior Services
SW Washington Regional Transportation Council
WSDOT, Public Transportation
Mark Your Calendars!
Skamania County Community Forum on Transportation Options:
Representatives from other communities will share how they
addressed transportation needs of their areas.Come, listen, and learn:
January 15, Rock Creek Center from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
For those who need transportation, please
call Skamania County Senior Services
at 509-427-9466 by 5:00 p.m., January 13, 2003.
Final Report (52 pages, 608K PDF)
Study Home Page / Provide Us Your Feedback
E-mail or phone:
Christian L. Watchie
Trans-Watch, Director
1035 Monroe
Eugene, OR 97402
Tel: 541-334-1786
Fax: 541-685-1336
       
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