By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor

Getting to Mac and back on Saturdays became easier for Grand Ronde residents in January.
Yamhill County Transit Area expanded its Monday through Friday service to the West Valley to include Saturday rides thanks to two state grants totaling $698,999.
“We recently received two grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation that allowed us to implement a number of expansions to the system and purchase capital items,” said Tonya Saunders, Yamhill County transit manager.
“We also have had numerous requests for Saturday service to the West Valley for quite some time now. The West Valley route is one of our more heavily traveled routes and I believe the Saturday service will be a huge hit.”
The earliest Saturday bus arrives at the Grand Ronde Governance Center at 10:25 a.m. and the latest return drops off passengers at 5:20 p.m.
Pickups in Grand Ronde also occur at 12:30 and 3:20 p.m. and return trips to Grand Ronde drop off at 12:25 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. as well.
The last ride home from McMinnville to Grand Ronde leaves the bus stop at the intersection of Fifth and Ford streets at 4:30 p.m.
Fares are $1 one-way and $2 for a day pass. Riders also can purchase a $15 booklet of 10 day passes or a $30 unlimited monthly pass.
The Transit Area also offers a dial-a-ride service for those unable to access the fixed routes because of mobility issues, or for those whose origins and/or destinations are not close to the fixed routes.
Dial-a-ride fares are $1.50 one-way and an unlimited monthly dial-a-ride pass is $35.
Dial-a-ride is curb-to-curb transportation services operating throughout Yamhill County. It operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and pick-ups must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling 503-472-0457, ext. 122, or 503-538-7433.
Yamhill County Transit Area’s service between Grand Ronde and McMinnville also includes stops at Spirit Mountain Casino’s convenience store, downtown Willamina and TJ’s in Sheridan.
Monday through Friday runs start at 5 a.m. at the Governance Center and pick-ups also occur at 6:55, 9:15 and 11:05 a.m. and 1:05, 3:15 and 6:15 p.m.
Drop-offs at the Tribal Governance Center start at 6:55 a.m. Monday through Friday and occur again at 9:10 and 11 a.m. and 1, 3, 6:05 and 8:25 p.m.
For more information, visit www.yctransitarea.org on the Internet.
Grand Ronde residents seeking to reach Salem also can ride a Salem-Keizer Transit District bus twice a day at the Tribal Governance Center.
The district provides 10 round trips daily Monday through Friday between the Salem-Keizer Transit Mall and the Tribal Governance Center with busses arriving at the Governance Center at 7:45 a.m. and 5:10 p.m. daily.
To see the complete schedules for Yamhill County Transit Area and Salem-Keizer Transit District, turn to the ad in this edition of Smoke Signals on Page ??.