By Karen Hutchinson-Talaski

Staff writer

HERMISTON In a surprise move, Greyhound has decided to eliminate its Hermiston station.

According to Kim Plaskett, Greyhound spokesperson, the elimination is based on economics.

“If the station is costing more to run than the revenue it brought in,” Plaskett said in a phone interview, “it is being closed. The company is eliminating marginally profitable and unprofitable stations.” The closures will occur effective Aug. 18.

This is not welcome news to Brandy Olsen, the manager of Cashco and Hermiston’s Greyhound vendor.

“It’s sad,” Olsen said. “Many of our riders use the bus to go to the Vet’s hospital in Portland.”

Olsen says she doesn’t understand the economics of the closure. She was told two Greyhound executives rode all the routes across the U.S. and determined which ones were to be closed and which to keep open.

“I am not sure this is good for anyone,” Olsen said.

Plaskett said the high cost of running long-haul bus routes is a contributing factor in the closures. People aren’t traveling long distances often, Plaskett said. Even short runs between Hermiston and Portland have low ridership.

Olsen wasn’t able to comment on Hermiston ridership, however, she said there are a number of times when local customers depend on the bus to get them where they need to go.

“We have one lady who rides the bus three times a month to go to the V.A. hospital in Portland,” Olsen said. “We get migrant workers who ride the bus after harvest.”

Hermiston has four buses that go to Portland each day, two to Spokane and one bus that goes to Pendleton/Salt Lake City. Greyhound intends to continue a pick-up and drop-off station at the Pilot Station in Stanfield.

Olsen says having to catch the bus in Stanfield could cause problems for elderly patrons.

“The elderly have a hard enough time getting places,” Olsen said. “This will be good for the taxis but not good for the customers.”