Friendly Rider is an Important Asset to the County
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 11.
Friendly Rider Update
Director Randy Jahnke outlined the current staffing, which includes a mix of full-time and part-time dispatchers and drivers, and explained how the system relies on a local share of operating and capital costs, with the state covering the rest. That local share has fluctuated in recent years, sometimes changing mid-year, and any money raised above the required percentage goes into reserves. Those reserves help cover shortfalls and pay the county’s share of bus purchases and other major expenses.
Jahnke reported that Friendly Rider currently operates eight buses and one company vehicle. He noted that bus prices have risen sharply, from about $54,000 in 2008 to around $225,000 today. While the state recommends replacing buses every five years or 150,000 miles, Friendly Rider tries to run them closer to eight years, replacing one per year to manage costs. The fleet is considered adequate for now, with some high-mileage units nearing the end of their useful life and newer buses expected later this year.
A major focus of the presentation was the new transit facility funded partly through state bonding, with a total project budget of about $3.5 million. The work will bring a modern wash bay, ADA-compliant features, and enclosed storage for buses, which are currently parked outside at the Wadena airport. The funding structure is a 90–10 split, with half of the local 10 percent coming from Friendly Rider’s reserves and half from the county...
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