KIM PHAGAN-HANSEL Star-Tribune correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:00 am
GILLETTE -- As the number of workers needed in Campbell County continues to increase exponentially, it's no wonder the number of commuters traveling into the county for work is increasing as well.
People living in surrounding communities are taking advantage of the high wages offered in Gillette and Campbell County. To help meet the needs of the 9,718 workers who traveled into the community for work in the fourth quarter of 2005, several businesses are looking for ways to make that commute easier.
Even though thousands are already commuting into Campbell County, the a 2006 study conducted by the Wyoming Workforce Development Council and Department of Workforce Services predicts those numbers will keep growing.
With those increasing commuter numbers in mind, Powder River Transportation in Gillette began researching the need for additional bus routes throughout the state. But after visiting Hulett and Douglas, the company discovered there was a growing transportation need, not only to Campbell County, but to other Wyoming communities. Unfortunately, after conducting a handful of meetings, the company ran into its own worker shortage issues.
"That's temporarily on the backburner because of the shortage of drivers and mechanics," said Mary Kelley, Powder River Transportation marketing director. "We had to put it on hold while we dealt with the extreme worker shortage."
Because of the positive response the company did receive at the meetings it held, Powder River Transportation would still like to consider the expansion of routes sometime in the future.
"It was very positive in the communities where we met with residents," Kelley said.
The increasing cost of fuel was one factor driving interest in commuter routes, but until Powder River Transportation can fill its current openings, the project is on hold. However, the company is continuing to raise money to conduct a study about the need for a public transit system within Campbell County. Kelley said it hopes to have the 20 percent match required by Wyoming Department of Transportation to get that study under way before the end of the year.
Interest has increased throughout the years for a transit system in Gillette to serve the needs of employers and their potential employees. Families with one vehicle, senior citizens and community youth are expected to take advantage of the public transportation system to get them where they need to go.
Just a little more than a hundred miles south, a transportation business has sprung up in the last couple of months to meet the increasing demands in Douglas. Bud and Ann Rex started Tumbleweed Transportation mostly to serve within the small, but bustling community. So far they've been transporting senior citizens and patients from Douglas to Casper for medical appointments.
"We take three people to work every day," Ann said. "Mostly it's for people to go to the grocery store."
However, the couple has transported one resident from one of the mines in Campbell County to Douglas. With the increasing demands of people commuting for work, Ann Rex said she expects Tumbleweed Transportation will eventually carry workers in Converse County to other Wyoming communities.