JAMESTOWN -- Jefferson Lines officials are trying to offer intercity bus service through Jamestown but can't until it finds a location for its buses to stop.
The lack of bus service traces back to a series of events beginning with the U.S. Department of Transportation shutting down Rimrock Stages in March.
Rimrock Stages was shut down after a DOT safety inspection that cited its continued operation as an "imminent hazard."
While Rimrock's routes were assumed by Jefferson Lines, they have not been able to secure a stop in Jamestown.
"We don't have a stop and we would like to have a stop," said Kevin John, Jefferson Lines director of sales and service. "We're open to anything. Just a stop. We don't necessarily need an agent."
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Buses have used the truck stop on the east side of Jamestown as a stop for years, according to Dale Redinger, owner of Jamestown Truck Plaza and Café.
"Rimrock was here for several years," he said. "They got in trouble with the DOT and Jefferson Lines stepped in. Rimrock had paid 20 percent commission on tickets. Jefferson Lines didn't like to pay 20 percent."
Redinger said that Jefferson Lines offered less than Rimrock but didn't specify what amount.
For about two weeks after Jefferson Lines assumed the route, the buses stopped at the Truck Plaza while Jefferson searched for a new stop. Redinger said he then decided to cease serving as the bus stop.
"It takes time to do bus tickets," he said. "And there were problems. Some passengers steal, write on the bathroom walls. We don't even miss them. We didn't realize how bad things were until they were gone."
Jefferson Lines used the Buffalo Mall as a stop for a brief period, according to Tim Perkins, assistant property manager for IRET Properties.
"It was just a temporary thing for a weekend," he said. "We had quite a few issues with the people hanging out."
John said the bus line has contacted numerous businesses in Jamestown in an effort to find a suitable bus stop and agent. He acknowledged that the buses' arrival time -- 3:30 a.m. -- made it unfeasible for many businesses. He said he had contacted city officials hoping for the possible use of city facilities as a bus stop.
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"We just need some place to serve as a pickup and drop off," he said. "We'll let the city decide if they want a bus stop or not."
Mayor Katie Andersen said the city does not have a 24-hour-per-day operation that could be used as a bus stop.
"I tried to give them additional locations of businesses that operate 24 hours," Andersen said. "The city can facilitate this but can't order a business to serve as a bus stop. Ultimately, it is up to Jefferson Lines to recruit a business to serve as a bus stop."
Currently, the nearest bus stop served by Jefferson Lines is John's I-94 Tesoro in Valley City.
