More residents catch Star buses

More and more Green River residents are catching a ride with the Sweetwater Transit Authority.

Judy Owens, executive director of STAR Transit, said ridership by Green River residents continues to increase. Last year, Green River residents accounted for 18,844 of the total 67,133 rides recorded by the service. Owens said a number of residents use the bus to travel to Rock Springs for work or errands, utilizing the shuttle service available on Railroad Avenue. However, 10,439 rides were taken within Green River; a number Owens said represents a 2 percent increase from 2013.

The transit authority operates a fixed route service in Rock Springs and an on-call service in Green River in addition to the shuttle service between the two cities. Owens said the service continues to gain popularity due to more residents recognizing the buses.

“People are realizing we’re here,” Owens said. “It’s hard to get the word out, but people realize public transport is for everyone.”

While Owens sees room for continued growth, she also expects to see decreased ridership in the future.

One of the reasons behind the anticipated decrease is the Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center only utilizes STAR’s services in Rock Springs, owning their own buses at the CDC’s Green River location. Also, STAR’s CDC service limits the number of riders in the buses as they’re used solely for CDC students.

Owens said there’s been continued requests for fixed-route service in Green River, but adds that the service was considered unlikely due to the city’s smaller population and limited destinations in STAR’s initial study. In Rock Springs, Owens said the route service continues to attract riders, with the city’s bus shelters attracting more people during harsh weather. Owens said the on-call service is still available for Green River residents and cost most people $2 per ride while those aged 60 and older are able to ride for free.