Results of a Park County public transportation feasibility study are seen as fodder for any person, business or entity considering filling transportation needs in the county.

When the Park County Transit Feasibility Study was commissioned last year, Park County Commissioner Joe Tilden predicted “private enterprise is going to jump all over it” if the study found a need and that some kind of service is feasible.

The study identified both as possibilities, though more research would be needed to determine how feasible any particular public transportation system might be. According to the study, most Park County residents surveyed said providing public transportation options is important — but most also said they were unlikely to use it.

However, the study notes that is common in areas without access to public transportation services. People are not likely to anticipate using those services until they see how public transportation can fit into their daily lives, it said.

The Park County Transit Feasibility Study was spearheaded by Powell Economic Partnership Inc. and Forward Cody Inc.

It was conducted by the Small Urban and Rural Livability Center’s Western Transportation Institute, part of the College of Engineering at the Montana State University in Bozeman. Representatives of the institute, PEP and Forward Cody presented the study to commissioners on June 21.

The study examined attitudes toward and the need for public transportation in Park County. It outlined transportation options available now and found most transportation services now are provided mainly to senior citizens or to people with disabilities. Their hours and the distance driven are limited.

The study then explored several options for expanding existing services or creating new ones to meet the needs of Park County residents with limited transportation options.

Transportation needs

“An analysis of age and travel patterns estimates that 675 people in Park County, including 188 in Powell, are potential riders” of public transportation, the study said.

The study found that 97.5 percent of households in Park County possess a vehicle. Powell had the highest number of households with no vehicles, at 105.

“While the most seriously constrained, a zero-vehicle household is not the only household that may benefit from public transportation,” the study said. “Two, three and four person households with only one vehicle may face constraints with respect to employment and educational opportunities and access to health care.”

The study found that 1,228 households in Park County likely need alternate forms of transportation to meet all of their mobility needs, including 438 in Cody and 304 in Powell.

“Providing additional transportation options for these households can demonstrate tangible economic development benefits,” the study said.

The study noted that, while the travel time to work for many Park County residents is less than 14 minutes, “for a noticeable number of Powell residents that either carpool or drive alone, their commute time is estimated to be 20 to 34 minutes. This indicates that these Powell residents work outside of Powell, most likely in Cody.”

Survey results

Of the 432 Park County residents who responded to the survey, 74.2 percent said it is important to provide public transportation for Park County.

The greatest perceived need was for transportation for commuters between Powell and Cody, with 377 people saying they agreed — 230 of those strongly agreeing.

Suggestions for additional destinations included Billings (40 responses), Lovell (35) and Meeteetse (19).

Two hundred fifty-seven respondents agreed or strongly agreed that transportation services are needed in Powell. Top destinations were Northwest College, downtown and Powell Valley Healthcare.

For Cody, 297 respondents agreed or strongly agreed transportation services are needed. Top locations included Holiday Inn, West Park Hospital, Walmart, downtown, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Park County Courthouse, Cody’s west end, Yellowstone Regional Airport, Park County Library and Cody Recreation Center, and the rodeo grounds.

Stakeholder interviews indicated:

• Economic development would be a big driver for public transportation, followed by social integration, environment, road safety and health care access.

• Commuters and college students were likely to be the biggest users of a transportation system, followed by people with disabilities and seniors.

• People from the Big Horn Basin and Lovell who access health care in Powell also are potential riders.

• The service would be most needed during morning and evening peak hours, and possibly times that corresponded with class offerings at Northwest College, the study said.

• Service seven days per week would be optimal, as the weekend service could be used by college students accessing part-time work in Cody.

• There used to be an intercity bus service in Park County, but it was discontinued due to lack of ridership. The groups felt that limited intercity bus service (two to three days per week) for medical appointments in Billings would be beneficial.

Existing transportation services

Currently, the Powell Senior Center, Cody Council on Aging, the Cody Shuttle and the Meeteetse Recreation District offer transportation services.

• The Powell Senior Center and the Cody Council on Aging offer transportation within 10 miles of Powell and Cody, respectively, primarily for senior citizens or people with disabilities. There is no charge for seniors using either service, but a $1 or $1.50 donation is suggested.

• The Cody Shuttle is a private service that offers services in Cody and between Cody and Billings daily as requested. It charges $175.

• The Meeteetse Recreation District is a nonprofit organization that provides transportation for members of the community for groceries, household supplies or medical treatment. The district makes a weekly trip to Cody on Thursdays. The typical fare is $5 per ride, but seniors can purchase an annual pass for $100, and the general public can buy an annual pass for $200.

What might Park County transportation look like?

The study identified several possible options for meeting Park County’s public transportation needs.

• Taxis such as Cody Town Taxi are provided in the Cody and Powell area, but given the $60 fare for a one-way trip between Cody and Powell for two people, “using a taxi service for community purposes is not likely,” the study said.

• Transportation network companies resemble taxi services, but the primary difference is that the provider (such as Uber and Lyft) contracts with individuals who use their own vehicles.

“It is estimated that the cost for a one-way trip between Cody and Powell would be approximately $20,” and is not seen as a viable commute option, the study said. However, the study notes it is important that people who carpool or use public transportation have access to a guaranteed ride home in the event of an emergency, such the need to go home to be with a sick child. Taxis and transportation network companies can provide that guaranteed ride home, the study said. 

• Carpools — The study points out that the website ErideShare.com facilitates the development of carpools, and it has a program that supports employer-based carpools.

• Vanpools — The study indicated they could be beneficial for employers such as Cody Laboratories and West Park Hospital and could also serve the needs of hospitality workers who may have hours that do not conform to a regular business schedule.

Vans could be purchased through the Wyoming Department of Transportation, with a local match of 10 to 20 percent, the study said.

• Volunteer driver programs can help mitigate the expense of public transportation, the study said.

“Many volunteer driver programs have the drivers use their own vehicle,” it said. “Most often they are focused on providing non-emergency medical transportation for seniors and persons with a disability.”

• Demand Response, such as transportation services provided by Powell Senior Center and Cody Council on Aging, is accessed by calling the day before a ride is needed to schedule the ride.

“It is possible that these demand response services could be marketed much more to the general public,” the study said.

It suggests that existing providers work together to schedule intercity services in a way that would best serve the needs of their primary service population.

• Fixed Routes such as busses — “Timing, frequency and reliability are critical to the usefulness of a fixed route system,” the study said. “A very basic fixed route system in Park County could simply provide one run between the two communities in the 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. hour.”

“The vehicle would then reverse this service one time in the evening,” the study said. “In some ways this service replicates a vanpool, but with the addition of several stops in each community, and the added benefit of being open to anyone.”