By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
Residents of Girdwood and Turnagain Arm will finally have access to public transportation, although, it won’t come courtesy of the People Mover. Instead a private contractor and businessman has stepped forward to offer shuttle service.
Bill Connell, a Girdwood resident and owner of the B&B, Girdwood Suite Retreat, expects to launch The Girdwood Shuttle and Transportation Service sometime in the first or second week of June.
The topic was discussed at a Girdwood Board of Supervisors’ meeting March 19, which Connell attended and publicly expressed his interest in getting a shuttle service started.
Connell said he is going to devote himself full-time to his shuttle service, which he said would eventually operate seven days a week, but will initially start out on a limited schedule. If business goes as planned, he plans to hire more drivers and purchase additional vans to meet the needs of the public.
“I felt it was important to keep the business local,” Connell said. “I expect to hire another driver, but for now it’s going to be me. I’ve made a financial commitment to the business.”
Connell, 46, has worked for 22 years as a nurse. As of June 1, he said he would be working only part-time as a nurse at Providence Hospital in order to work full-time running the shuttle service. He bought a new GMC 15-passenger shuttle van and a 4x6 enclosed luggage trailer.
Connell first thought about starting a taxi or shuttle service two years ago. As discussions began surfacing at recent GBOS meetings, he felt it was time to take the plunge into the business of public transportation. He approached Brent Fraser, Transporta-tion Inspector for the Municipality. Upon discussing the prospect of shuttle service in Girdwood, Connell found that regulations under Title 11 for a shuttle service in Girdwood would make it difficult if not impossible to operate a public transportation service.
“What Fraser told me was that municipal codes to Girdwood were like ‘sticking a square peg in a round hole,’” he said. But Fraser did agree there was a need for the service.
“He researched it, and was very helpful in finding a solution,” Connell said.
Girdwood posed a unique situation, in that it was a rural community within the municipality, located 37 miles south with no access to public transportation. After many discussions with Fraser, Conner found a solution under an article in Title 11, which essentially stated that that if the municipality could not effectively enforce the municipal regulations of Title 11, that the business would fall under the U.S. and State of Alaska Department of Transportation guidelines and regulations to operate a shuttle service. If the shuttle met all of the requirements of the DOT, Connell said it would not fall under the oversight of the municipality. The original Title 11, he said, was made for the city of Anchorage and did not consider the unique challenges of providing public transportation service in a rural community like Girdwood.
Connell then met with both Fraser and Jess Seward, Alaska DOT official, to discuss the necessary steps to meet licensing requirements under U.S. and State regulations.
Connell then purchased the required $1.5 million liability insurance policy and invested $40,000 into a new shuttle, and he is now ready to begin Girdwood’s first privately run shuttle service.
Up to now, the service has been unofficially provided by shuttles owned and operated by Alyeska Resort. However, at the March 19 meeting, Larry Daniels, Mountain Manager for Alyeska said the resort was interested in hiring an independent contractor to run the hotel’s shuttle service, allowing the buses to also be used for the community. Connell said he would stay in contact with the resort, and hopes to position himself to acquire the contract.
In the meantime, he is content to offer his own shuttle service to the community.
“I’m here to service the residents and tourists, as well as the B&B’s and businesses of the Girdwood Valley,” he said, “and provide safe and reliable transportation in the Girdwood area in a timely manner.”
Connell is still working on his business plan and pricing structure. He said he would model it after the prices of other shuttle services operating in Anchorage. He will offer bus service to the airport as well, which he expects to charge around $90 one-way.
Locally, Connell feels it’s important to offer service at an affordable price and provide a shuttle for both businesses and locals alike, especially people who may have had a night out on the town, and may be under the influence of alcohol and need a ride home.
“I hope to be part of the park and ride plan, and assist the community in their future transportation needs,” he said.
Connell will make a new business presentation at the Girdwood Board of Supervisors May 21 meeting, and he’s looking for suggestions from local residents to better serve the community of Girdwood. You may call him at the new shuttle line at 783-1900.