Ignacio residents can no longer take a bus to Bayfield to buy groceries.
Southern Ute Community Action Programs started the round-trip shuttle from Ignacio to Bayfield three times a week in June when one of Ignacio’s two grocery stores closed down.
However, Road Runner Transit bus service had few riders, and the nonprofit canceled the route earlier this week, said Clayton Richter, division director of Road Runner Transportation, a service of SUCAP.
Ezra and Brook Lee, in partnership with the McClanahan family plan to demolish the existing building and open a new grocery store in the same location, said Brook Lee. She said they still expect it to be a 10-month process.
The only other grocery store in Ignacio is Roots Natural Foods on Goddard Avenue.
“There was a lot of concern in town when the 10-month closure was announced, that people who can’t drive would be left high and dry” Richter said in a news release. “But there’s no point in continuing the run if the service isn’t being used.”
SUCAP has a shuttle bus between Ignacio and Durango. The Ignacio Senior Center will continue to help residents with disabilities and the elderly with assisted transportation to do their grocery shopping and help load and unload groceries.
Those trips may be scheduled to go to either Bayfield or Durango, Ignacio, or other medical or personal destinations by calling (970) 563-4561.
smueller@durangoherald.com
