Two bus companies bid for intercity routes

Two companies are competing for funding to operate intercity bus routes in Idaho. The Idaho Transportation Department said $1.1 million is available to help provide mass transit in the state. Elevated Transit has been operating intercity bus service in Utah since 2014. It is proposing two lines of service. One would serve cities along a path from Coeur d’Alene to the Boise airport. The second would begin in Rexburg and include stops in Rigby, Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Pocatello, Downey, Preston, Logan, Utah, and the Salt Lake City International Airport. A detailed description of their proposal is available here. The second proposal was submitted by Salt Lake Express and focuses on southern and eastern Idaho.The proposal would fund three routes; one from Jackson, Wy. to Idaho Falls, another from Rexburg to West Yellowstone, Montana and a third from Twin Falls to Sun Valley. Details on the company’s proposal are available here. The transportation department is accepting public comment on the two proposals until April 7. Further details are available here.