During a time when the price of food, gas and other items keep increasing, one thing that won’t is the bus system in Grays Harbor County.
Grays Harbor Transportation Authority’s (GHTA) buses, which were already free to ride through the end of 2022, will continue through Dec. 31, 2023.
It seemed to make Eric Wood, of Westport, happy on Thursday. The Daily World spoke to him about the free fares as he waited for the bus back to Westport.
“I don’t mind paying $1, but free fares are awesome,” Wood said. “Can’t complain about that, especially now that you’re gonna be able to ride to Olympia for free for another whole year.”
Wood’s been riding the bus for years, and it doesn’t sound like that will change anytime soon. Wood explained his reasons for why riding the bus works for him.
“I ride the bus for getting groceries at Wal-Mart, and getting prescriptions at Wal-Mart,” Wood said. “I ride the bus to go to like doctor’s appointments and dentist appointments. And, anything that’s in Aberdeen, I usually just ride the bus because gas prices are so high, I might as well use the bus. And, my bus stop’s just right up the road (in Westport,) so instead of driving into town and paying $15 for gas, I just take the bus.”
The gas prices rose in Washington state during the past week, with prices throughout the state that were 54.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, according to The Daily World on Wednesday.
And then, the lowest price in Grays Harbor County as of Monday night, was $4.55 per gallon at 7-Eleven in Hoquiam. The next lowest price at that point was $4.89 per gallon at the Aberdeen Safeway and Q-Mart.
As of Thursday, GasBuddy showed the price was $5.69 per gallon at the Shell gas station just before the junction at WA-105 and South Montesano Street.
The free fares for 2023, which were made effective Oct. 1, are part of “The Zero Fare” program for GHTA.
That extension is part of the Move Ahead Washington package, according to Martin Best, administrative services and interim maintenance and facilities manager for GHTA.
“(The package) was approved by the (state) Legislature and the governor during the last session,” Best said. “It covers all GHTA bus routes and there are no restrictions.”
Best said the goal is to increase ridership and service to the residents in Grays Harbor County.
“As we have seen so far, with the current fare free program, it has increased ridership,” Best said.
The way the bus system works out in Westport is something that drew Wood to the South Beach area.
“I’m only like a quarter of a mile from the (Westport) Park & Ride. I love that,” Wood said. “It’s one of the reasons why I bought the place in Westport, because the bus actually stops there twice.”
Wood said rides to Grayland also make it convenient for him. The free rides make it better.
“Now that it’s free, I check my mail (in town.). I do everything on the bus,” Wood said. “I’ve got a truck and everything, but what’s the point of spending $5.80 a gallon? I might start driving more once gas prices come down, if they ever do. But for now, with a free bus for another year, I’ll probably ride the bus all the time.”
