Sierra County and the cities of T or C and Elephant Butte, with input from business owners and Main Street, are conducting a pilot project for a free shuttle service through the summer. The shuttle currently runs on Friday and Saturday from 3-midnght, and from 3-10PM on Sunday. It stops at numerous locations in both cities, as well as Elephant Butte Lake State Park.
The Sierra County DWI office has also provided essential leadership on the pilot project.
If successful and ongoing funding sources identified, the shuttle will continue through Labor Day and begin 2018 with Memorial Day weekend.
As a pilot project, details are still being worked out. Two vehicles on loan from Sierra Vista Hospital pick up and drop off riders at stops currently designated by orange construction barrels. The shuttles leave downtown T or C, head out to the lake, pull in to several Elephant Butte stops, the golf course, and back to T or C, with numerous stops along Date Street and downtown.
A shuttle is intended to reach each stop roughly every thirty minutes, and the hope is to establish a published schedule upon which riders can rely.
Driver wages and fuel are currently being funded by contributions from Sierra County and the two municipalities, though business sponsorships are being explored, particular from the businesses that will benefit from the shuttle riders.
Popular rides so far seem to be T or C residents going to the beach and lake visitors coming into town for Wal-mart or restaurant visits.
The current list of stops, subject to change:
- Bullocks
- Broadway & Foch (brewery/theater/El Faro) – may move to Spaceport Visitor Center
- Bedroxx
- Raymond’s
- Los Arcos
- Moose Lodge
- Wal-mart
- La Cocina
- Golf course clubhouse
- Elephant Butte Inn
- Elephant Butte Family Dollar
- Elephant Butte VFW
- Elephant Butte American Legion
- Elephant Butte Lake State Park – numerous stops on Lions Beach, Hot Spring Landing
City and County officials are riding the bus this weekend to better understand the route and scheduling and to hear from riders how the shuttle can best serve the community.
Questions and comments may be directed to info@sierracounty.biz.
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