JACKSON, Wyo. — On Monday, March 11, the Jackson Hole Airport announced an increase in airport shuttle ridership from 80 to 100 daily riders in February to approximately 180 daily riders during the first week of March.
“We are encouraged by the growth of ridership, especially in the recent week,” Transit Operations Director Bruce Abel told Buckrail. “We look forward to seeing how ridership responds to the spring break period, when many locals seek travel.”
Since the pilot began on Dec. 16, a daily average of approximately 78 riders have utilized the airport shuttle, according to Abel.
Abel explained that the goal, since the outset of the program, is to reach a daily average of 115 riders over the course of the pilot period, with an increase of 175 riders per day towards the end of the pilot. START also has the goal to recover 40% of total operating costs.
START will evaluate overall ridership and operation costs at the end of the pilot in six weeks. The planning firm, Mead & Hunt, will analyze responses to the Jackson Airport Pilot Shuttle Survey. The Survey’s rider responses of what is working well and what could be improved, as well as non-rider responses, will help assess the need of the airport shuttle in the future.
The Start Airport Shuttle Pilot Program is slated to run until Sunday, April 14.
