As the Targhee Shuttle continues to see its ridership reach record numbers, the City of Driggs has renewed a Federal Transit Administration grant to maintain the service without schedule changes through the 2014/15 season.

“The Targhee shuttle bus will continue to operate on the exact same schedule that it has this year and last year,” said Driggs Community Development Director Doug Self.

Figures from the 2012/13 season tallied 14,438 rides, a number that was surpassed this season before the end of February.

While the shuttle has operated for five years, this will be its third year operating on a consistent schedule with weekend routes connecting Victor and Driggs to Grand Targhee on a public transportation system.

“It’s kind of a pretty vital part to a tourist economy,” said Ken Rider, Grand Targhee Resort director of marketing and sales.

With the resort itself seeing record numbers of visitors this year, Rider said the shuttle has been an asset, pointing out that there have been fewer traffic accidents on Ski Hill Road this season compared to previous ones.

He also said that the shuttle has helped in alleviating some of the parking congestion that is a frequent problem at the base of the resort.

While rumors have circulated about Grand Targhee charging for parking, which would further increase ridership and reduce the quantity of cars at the resort, Rider responded to these allegations saying “that’s not something that Targhee necessarily wants to do,” and there will not be significant changes made to the parking plans for the 2014/15 season.

As part of the Targhee master plan, they will eventually have to charge for parking. The plan outlines the construction of new developments divided into four phases. Paid parking requirements do not come until phase three, which necessitates the construction of 226 dwelling units and 60,000 square feet of retail space first be constructed.

“It appears that there is a pretty significant amount of development that needs to happen before this is triggered,” said Shawn Means, senior planner of Teton County, Wyo., who oversees the Grand Targhee Resort Master Plan.

Some Driggs city administrators expressed their desire to see the shuttle run on a schedule with more standardized times, such as on the hour or half-hour instead of times like 7:27 a.m. from the 5th Street bus stop.

“I did get that input from the council that a more regular schedule with sort of hour, quarter-hour, half-hour stop times would make life easier,” said Self.

While that amendment has not yet been discussed, the $56,267 awarded from the grant will ensure easy access to and from the hill.

This article appeared on the Teton Valley News website on April 21, 2014.