SPOT to try out transit service between Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry

SANDPOINT — Starting April 1, Bonner County and Boundary County residents will be able to spend the day shopping, dining and recreating in Sandpoint, Ponderay and Bonners Ferry without the hassle of driving.

Selkirk’s Pend Oreille Transit Authority is set to begin a pilot program to test the need and sustainability of scheduled transit service between downtown Sandpoint and downtown Bonners Ferry. There will also be a scheduled stop in Ponderay and additional stops are available in Samuels and Naples by prearrangement.

The gold route leaves from the downtown Sandpoint bus stop at 9:45 a.m. and again every two hours until the final departure at 5:45 p.m. The Bonners Ferry stop is outside the Kootenai River Inn at the end of the pedestrian tunnel under Highway 95 connecting to downtown Bonners Ferry. The return leg leaves from outside the Kootenai River Inn starting at 10:45 a.m. and again every two hours until the final run at 6:45 p.m.

The pilot service is a joint project funded by SPOT and its newest partner, the Kootenai River Inn Casino and Spa. Also participating is the city of Bonners Ferry and Boundary County. The pilot service will run for the months of April, May and June. An evaluation will be made near the end of the test period to determine the future of the service.

For information or to prearrange stops in the Naples and Samuels areas, call 208-263-3774.

SPOT pilot schedule beginning April 1

Sandpoint to Bonners (Saturdays only):

Sandpoint Ponderay Bonners

Trip 1: 9:45 a.m. 9:55 a.m. 10:35 a.m.

Trip 2: 11:45 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 12:35 p.m.

Trip 3: 1:45 p.m. 1:55 p.m. 2:35 p.m.

Trip 4: 3:45 p.m. 3:55 p.m. 4:35 p.m.

Trip 5: 5:45 p.m. 5:55 p.m. 6:35 p.m.

Bonners to Sandpoint (Saturdays only):

Bonners Ponderay Sandpoint

Trip 1: 10:45 a.m. 11:25 a.m. 11:35 a.m.

Trip 2: 12:45 p.m. 1:25 p.m. 1:35 p.m.

Trip 3: 2:45 p.m. 3:25 p.m. 3:35 p.m.

Trip 4: 4:45 p.m. 5:25 p.m. 5:35 p.m.

Trip 5: 6:45 p.m. 7:25 p.m. 7:35 p.m.