Green Transportation

City of Moscow to Have an Intermodal Transportation Center
By Jeanne McHale, Newsletter Volunteer

The perils of big oil have been hitting pretty close to home lately. The idling megaloads poised in the Port of Lewiston right now show that you don’t have to live along the Gulf Coast to be impacted by the wealthiest corporations in the world. None of us are immune to the environmental consequences of oil addiction. What can an individual living in Moscow do to reduce this dependency?

You can ride the bus instead of driving. Yes, Moscow has busses that can take you where you need to go locally and regionally, and you may be surprised at the low-cost and no-cost transportation options we have in our community. In a move that should enable travelers to take better advantage of these options, the City of Moscow is making plans to build an Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC). This facility will serve as a base of operations for local and regional transit providers and providing a link for pedestrians and cyclists. The ITC will be a hub for routes provided by Moscow Valley Transit, the Moscow-Pullman commuter bus, the Vandal Access Shuttle which traverses the UI campus, and Northwest Stage Lines which runs the Greyhound bus connecting Moscow to Lewiston, Spokane, and Boise. Though the site for the ITC has yet to be determined, I’m pleased to note that one of the selection criteria is “ease and safety of site access by pedestrian and bike transit users.” Covered bike parking is planned, and many of the transit providers that will use the ITC offer bike racks for riders.
The Moscow Valley Transit buses are an example. You can ride the MVT bus for free, thanks to federal funding. There are two fixed routes both of which originate at the SUB on the UI campus. The west route gets you to the Palouse Mall, Gritman Hospital, and downtown Moscow. The east route includes stops at City Hall, the 1912 Center, Latah Fairgrounds, and Eastside Marketplace.
The free Vandal Access Shuttle is a dedicated disability shuttle, though anyone can ride. It operates weekdays from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and is 5% biodiesel-powered. It has room for 10-12 passengers and two wheelchairs. The shuttles lack bike racks.
The Moscow-Pullman commuter bus connects the UI and WSU campuses, except on weekends, during the summer, and evenings. If you (and your bike) want to take the bus between Moscow and Pullman, you will need a mere $2 each way unless you’re a UI or WSU student, in which case it’s free. But you better hurry. Hatchet-wielding administrators at both universities are constantly threatening to discontinue funding for the commuter bus.
The ITC will also be used by the City of Moscow Van Pool and the MVT bus that connects Moscow to Elk River one day a week. What is missing in all of this? Obviously, service on nights and weekends would greatly enhance intermodal transportation options. Maybe if more of us would take advantage of these transit options, the hours of service would be extended. Let’s make that a goal.


Jeanne McHale is excited about her new newsletter assignment. Stay tuned for more tips on Green Transportation.