By JESSICA BRICKER
The county’s public transit program appears to be continuing its rebound since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Betsy Collier, the new director of the Wells County Council on Aging, presented a review of Wells on Wheels activity through April to the county commissioners this month. She also introduced the new associate director, Susie Ehlerding, and the new transportation program manager, Sandra Bayne.
Part of that succession plan was established by Bonnie Valind, who recently retired as the agency’s director.
While at the meeting last week, Collier also received the commissioners’ support for continuing the state’s transportation grant program that helps fund WOW services in the community.
The number of trips from January through April this year has topped 8,500. Last year during the same time period, the total number of trips was just over 8,200. During the same stretch of time in 2020 — before the pandemic stalled services and other activities — the number of trips exceeded 10,600.
In a report to county officials last summer, Collier said the program was in a “recovery” phase.
Other highlights from the report include:
• The number of trips made in 2021 was 23,661. That was up from 2020’s 23,086. According to provided data that goes back to 2004, the program’s best year was just before the pandemic in 2019, which saw more than 43,500 trips.
• The number of average trips per business day so far this year is 109, which tops 2021’s daily average of 95 and is nearly tied with 2020’s daily average of 111.
• From January through April, 194 different adults ages 18 to 59 have used WOW services. Seniors aged 60 and older account for 165 users. Infants and students combine for 55 users so far this year.
• From January through April, WOW drivers have driven almost 47,000 miles in the 14-vehicle fleet. About 41,500 have been passenger miles. More than 4,600 gallons of gas have been used, costing about $16,500.
• Last year, the program spent almost $41,000 on 14,441 gallons of gas. Passenger miles exceeded 99,400.
jessica@news-banner.com
