Trailblazer service expands in area

By Jennifer Gallus
Staff Writer

An additional bus has been added to the Trailblazer Transit service area in eastern McLeod County.

A dedicated bus for the communities of Winsted, Lester Prairie, Glencoe, Silver Lake, and Plato was recently made available to area residents, thanks to a grant secured by McLeod County Social Services Center.

Both McLeod County and Trailblazer recognized a need for the additional service over and above the county-wide service that is already in place, and the transit system is doing its best to accommodate those needs.

“This additional bus is a single step in a series of steps to get the service level to where it should be. This type of service can change the lives of those who are able to use it effectively,” Ludwig said. Trailblazer currently provides around 90,000 rides per year, and the additional service is expected to increase the total ridership to over 100,000 rides per year.

Trailblazer is an option for just about anyone who needs to get from one location to another, either within their own community or back and forth between communities. Trailblazer also operates in the rural areas.

Almost anyone can utilize the transit service for almost any reason. A child can get home from day care. A student can get to school. An adult can use the bus to get to work. Seniors can go out to eat or go to the grocery store. However, Trailblazer does not provide rides for certain scenarios, such as medical emergencies.

The majority of people who use the Dial-A-Ride service are adults and youth. Seniors comprise about 25 percent of the customer base, according to Ludwig, but he would like to see that percentage increase.

In fact, Trailblazer is adding new promotions to encourage seniors to ride more often. One such promotion is the dining card, which is a monthly pass that allows customers to ride an unlimited number of times in a month to go somewhere to eat. Anyone can purchase the card for $12, but the dining card was designed especially for seniors.

Dial-A-Ride bus service is similar to taxi service in that customers are picked up and dropped off wherever the customers want. However, there are some distinct differences. Unlike taxi service that is generally available with short notice, Dial-A-Ride service is better suited for people who schedule in advance. In addition, taxi service is exclusive to one customer or group at a time, whereas Trailblazer bus riders generally share the bus with other customers.

A ride can be scheduled up to one week in advance. Same day requests are welcome, but such requests will need to be worked around previously scheduled rides.

Calling in advance allows dispatchers to schedule similar ride requests together, which is what creates the efficiencies necessary to operate the transit system.

There are no bus routes and no set times for the service. Service is provided on a demand basis and will respond to what the residents of the communities request.

Trailblazer offers presentations to groups interested in learning more about how to use the bus service. Call toll-free 877-743-3828 on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for more info or to schedule a ride.