BONNERS FERRY — SPOT Bus will officially start running Monday service May 4, kicking off a monthslong trial period to see if it can become a permanent option in the community. 

Boundary County’s only form of public transportation will now run five days a week, including routes to Bonner County on Thursdays and Moyie Springs on Friday afternoons.  

“We’re doing a trial from May 4 through the end of September,” SPOT Bus Executive Director Donna Griffin said. “Our fiscal year starts in October.”   

If popular, the route could become permanent, she said. 

Monday’s route will mirror the Tuesday and Wednesday routes, running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as far south as Naples and north to Three Mile. 

“Being able to go to the post office and get business done on Mondays will be a great addition instead of waiting,” Griffin said. “For some, it feels like a long wait from Friday to Tuesday to get business done that would be better handled on Mondays. That was a primary piece of it.” 

Ron Smith, a Bonners Ferry councilman and SPOT board member, has been pushing for the addition of the extra day of service for months. 

“It’s been on my mind a long time,” Smith said. “I wanted service available to the residents of Boundary County as much as we could.” 

A private donor has been key to implementing the trial. 

“She donated $5,000 the previous year and $5,000 this year, which got us close to satisfying the match,” Griffin said. “That opened a new window for us to extend service and provide more access for people who need it most.” 

If the service does not attract enough riders, SPOT will adjust accordingly. 

“All our numbers are up, but if the numbers aren’t there for Monday, we’ll cancel it and put our resources somewhere else,” Smith said.

More changes may be coming to SPOT in Boundary County. 

“We’re getting more requests from the north, so we may have to think about extending hours in the Moyie area,” Griffin said. “There are all kinds of possibilities.” 

“We’d love feedback about possibly adding a Saturday service,” Griffin said. “That’s a different clientele, and weekends are different from business during the week.” 

The added service will require an additional day of work for the bus driver.

“Our driver has offered to add a day and is doing the trial period as well,” Griffin said. “We’re very fortunate.” 

SPOT Bus typically requires 24-hour notice to schedule rides, but Monday service will require additional advance notice. 

“To ride on Monday, you have to put your reservation in on Friday,” Smith said. 

Griffin said SPOT is in a strong position and she is optimistic about the future. 

“It’s a great service and a needed service, and we need to spread the word that it’s for everyone,” Griffin said. “A lot of people see it but don’t understand it can apply to them and be helpful to their family. Even kids over six can ride the bus after school to go to their grandparents’ house or something like that.”