Editor,

Island Transit has always been intended to serve all the people of Whidbey Island, fare free. When Dan Snow came to Island Transit from Olympia and became our first executive director, it was demonstrated that a fare-free system is more efficient, less expensive and would be a greater service to all the residents of Whidbey Island. When Dan left and Martha Rose joined us from Mason County (also a fare-free transit county), we continued to serve all as a fare-free system and expand our service area.

Martha Rose and the then board of directors did not anticipate the economic impact of the Great Recession. People were losing their houses and business in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, business was no longer conducted as usual. Sales across every community were down. The economy was in need of major changes then, but it took four years for Island Transit to respond to the lack of revenue.

A revenue stream that’s based on sales is always vulnerable to and relies on the condition of the economy. This includes fares to ride the bus, which has been demonstrated over and over again to generate very little income and cost more in: insurance, maintenance, accounting, driver well-being, longer stops while people count their money, and angry riders.

I would suggest a revenue stream like the one employed by our port, park and school districts. We could have a Transit District that would get a portion of the property tax that Island County property owners are already paying. This would be a more stable and predictable revenue stream and less of an impact on the more vulnerable folks in our community.

Please keep Island Transit the light of hope it has always been and was always intended to be for all the members of our community.

WILL COLLINS

Langley