Bus service between Missoula and Whitefish is expanding thanks to a partnership between the Montana Department of Transportation and the the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.
MDT announced that Flathead Transit, a service of CSKT, will begin offering new daily passenger service between Missoula and Whitefish effective Dec. 16. The new service will stop in Evaro, Arlee, Ravalli, Saint Ignatius, Pablo, Polson, Lakeside, Kalispell and Whitefish. Earlier this year Rimrock Stage Lines dropped its local bus service.
MDT is providing federal funding for the new service and Greyhound is providing the required match to help make the new service sustainable into the future, according to MDT. No state or local funds are required because of the Greyhound match.
“We’re excited to expand our transit service to include this new route,” said Corky Sias, manager of Flathead Transit.
“This new service will be available to the general public and anyone needing transportation along this route. We are also proud to be partnering with Greyhound to offer service nationwide.”
Tickets can be purchased at Stuart’s Cenex in St. Ignatius; Quick Silver in Pablo; the Kwa Taq Nuk in Polson; and Brian’s Conoco in Kalispell.
“Connecting Missoula and Whitefish with a fixed route fills a void in Montana’s intercity system,” said David Jacobs, MDT transit section supervisor.
“This new service provides a connection to Greyhound, Amtrak and local and regional services in Missoula. More importantly, it reestablishes mobility options for Montanans who rely on public transit out of necessity or choice.”
The new service is being offered in cooperation with Greyhound Lines, Inc. as part of its growing Greyhound Connect services to small towns and rural communities throughout the nation. New Greyhound ticket agents in Kalispell, Polson, Pablo and St. Ignatius will be able to sell tickets to anywhere Greyhound goes, and Flathead Transit will operate into the existing Greyhound terminal in Missoula, 1660 W. Broadway.
Customers can buy tickets through any Greyhound selling locations nationwide to and from these new Flathead Transit communities.
“Greyhound is proud to add Flathead Transit as its newest partner in the Greyhound Connect program,” said Dave Leach, president and CEO of Greyhound. “This expansion will give the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes additional travel options while providing a safe, comfortable and affordable ride and we look forward to maintaining this partnership for the traveling public for years to come.”
Information about the service times, reservations, ticket prices and stop locations in each community is available from Flathead Transit at Quick Silver in Pablo at (406) 275-2877.