Orofino driver urges Lewiston to coordinate senior transportation across northern Idaho

At the Lewiston City Council meeting Nov. 24, public commenter Daryl Ketchum urged the city to consider providing or coordinating senior transportation services that would serve Orofino and surrounding communities.

Ketchum described a long history of driving a senior bus and working with Valley Transit and other providers. He said that from Jan. 1 to July 31, 2025 he had 322 passengers and about 963 trips, and that service reductions had removed Medicaid/Medicare vans from Orofino and other small communities.

"I came and talked to people at Valley Transit and they said, well, we have a contract with the city of Lewiston and we can't alter that contract," Ketchum said, arguing that Lewiston’s infrastructure could be coordinated with Boise to extend service across the Camas Prairie and northern Idaho.

Mayor Johnson thanked Ketchum and said staff (transit manager) would follow up. The mayor noted Representative Harris was present and listening to the comment.

The meeting did not include a formal council motion on the item; the comment was referred for staff follow-up.