POMEROY– The new Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA) cutaway bus purchased through a Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) grant, for $73,328 is now ready for service. The GCTA paid only $19,390 of that purchase price

The 2020 Ford Elkhart Coach ECII, E-450 will carry 14 passengers, or 12 passengers and two wheelchairs, plus the driver. Some new features include a four-camera system, plus a back-up camera, a 1000-pound capacity wheel-chair lift, two built-n child restraint seats, a wider entry door, and "state of the art" non-slip floor surface and easy to clean seat coverings.

-EW Photo by Connie Boyer

This interior view of the new bus shows some of the modern equipment and seats on board, the non-slip flooring, and driver instrumentation, as well as how roomy it is.

The WDOT grant application was submitted September, 2018, and the grant was awarded April, 2019. However, the contract was not signed, completing the transaction, until September, 2019. The bus had to be special ordered to the GCTA specifications which extended delivery to February, 2020. Fast Signs of Lewiston quickly applied the new graphic design to the side, completed some interior work inside before use.

The purchase of this bus may be the last one the GCTA will be allowed to purchase that is not electrically powered, a Washington State mandate. Also, the WSDOT grant and finalization of the contract was awarded in 2019, allowing the procurement even after the passage of I-976 last November, which might have prevented the new vehicle purchase.

To apply for a driving position with the GCTA can contact Jeff Ruchert, GCTA Manager. "We are always looking for new drivers," said Ruchert.