Rathdrum Prairie News: Public transportation there when you need it

Although much of North Idaho is rural, current public transportation systems offer low-cost independence to the growing number of residents who rely on their services. Whether you need to get to a doctor’s appointment in Rathdrum, attend your book club in Spirit Lake, shop at Wal-Mart in Post Falls, or take a class at North Idaho College, chances are you can find a bus to take you there.

North Idaho Community Express provides public transportation services to rural North Idaho, including Sandpoint and other outlying areas in Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner counties. NICE buses make three round trips to Sandpoint each day (with regular stops in other communities) and provide on demand curb-to-curb service for other transportation needs. According to Helen Stevens, Executive Director of NICE, “Our riders use the bus for a total mixture of reasons, including medical appointments, grocery shopping, visiting spouses in care facilities and attending school at North Idaho College.”

Twenty-four hour notice is necessary for scheduling, but Stevens says they try to meet the requests of those they serve and urges residents to, “Call us with your needs.” Idaho State Medicaid can be billed for qualified trips with 24 hour notice. Handicap-equipped buses run from 7:30 a.m. Monday through 5 p.m. Friday and are closed on most federal holidays. Call NICE offices at 664-3550, or visit their Web site at www.nice transportation. com for full schedule and cost information.

Kootenai Area Transportation System-Link, offers public transportation with on-demand, curb-to-curb services to the urbanized areas of Kootenai County, including Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum. Trips are open to anyone at a cost of $1, with a 24-hour notice requirement. Idaho State Medicaid can be billed for qualified trips with 24-hour notice. Buses run from 7:30 a.m. Monday through 5 p.m.. Friday and are closed on most federal holidays.

Riders can transfer from KATS-Link to CityLink at both the Post Falls Wal-Mart and the Coeur d’Alene Riverstone stops. Find online information about Kats-Link under “Services” on the NICE Web site, or call (208) 664-9769.

Kootenai Medical Center Shuttle is a public transportation service to the hospital and KMC-affiliated physician offices in the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls area. Private funding from the hospital covers the cost of the free service. Call (208)-666-2100.

White Tail Transportation Service provides long-distance, non-emergency medical transportation to Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties with access to Spokane medical facilities. Medicaid pays for qualified riders, but non-Medicaid clients are required to pay approximately $1 per mile. (208) 263-1018

CityLink, a regular, seven-day-a-week bus service, provides free transportation to riders in Post Falls, Hayden, Coeur d’Alene, and the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, including Worley, Plummer, Tensed and Desmet. The system has 23 stops on four fixed routes that cover more than 200 miles.

It is estimated CityLink serves more than 600,000 riders each year. CityLink began serving local communities in November, 2005 as the first transportation system in the nation resulting from partnership between tribal and governmental agencies. All buses are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, and have bike racks. Check out the Web site at www.idahocitylink.com or call (877) 941-RIDE.

Omnibus Inc. offers a charter service and shuttle service to and from the Spokane Airport. Cost is $35 each way to the airport and $50 per hour for personal trips. (877) 327-6664 or (208) 667-6664

Greyhound buses run East and West from Coeur d’Alene during weekdays. The Greyhound station is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. For scheduling information call (800) 231-2222 or (208) 664-3343.

Although some of these public transportation services are little known, altogether they provide services needed by Kootenai County seniors, those who are disabled, those without personal transportation and the small (but growing) number of those who choose to rely on public transportation. Next time you need a ride – give one a call.