Federal grant pays for new bus to assist Mount Si Senior Center

In Snoqualmie Tribal beliefs, the mountain goat is one of the highest spirit. The goat’s virtuous visage is emblazoned on the Snoqualmie Tribe’s new van, which is now helping transport the elders of the Valley as part of the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation program.

The Tribe brought the new 14-seat van to the Valley through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The van cost $57,000. The senior center provides drivers.

The tribe is partnering with the Mount Si Senior Center’s transportation program to serve the lower Valley, primarily Carnation and Duvall.

“We view it as part of our community responsibility, to tribal members that live here, but also the greater Valley,” Snoqualmie Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson said. The tribe is seeking additional federal funds to add another shuttle, pay for van operations for another two years, and buy a new radio dispatch system for the van program.

The van runs on 99 percent biodiesel fuel, provided by a North Bend-based biodiesel company. It is fueled at the Tribe’s facility in Carnation.

Mattson said the Tribe is working with the senior center to convert some of their other shuttles to biodiesel fuel.

Residents who need a lift can contact the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation program, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, at (425) 888-7001 or (425) 333-5554.