SANGER (KMJ) — A grant of more than half a million federal dollars could be the start of a revitalization in a small valley city.
The City of Sanger is using the money to put on a bus to Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park – and its hoped that’ll be the draw tourists need. The idea is to turn Sanger’s new municipal complex and hotel into a hub for the new bus service.
“The actual transit stop will be in the municipal complex here in Sanger”, says Community and Economic Development Manager Dan Spears. “What we intend is as we build it out it’ll be co-located with the new hotel operation”.
But it’s not just designed for tourists – but locals too.
“We’ve done surveys here in Sanger and it’s amazing how many people live so close. It’s only a 45 minute drive away but so many people have never made the trip up the hill”.
The service will start from Fresno’s Amtrak station – with stops in Sanger and Squaw Valley – before heading into the hills.
“It’s a two year pilot program. In other words we’re testing to see what kind of demand there is. We think it’s going to be overwhelming for the four trips we have each day. We fully expect to have to increase that”.
The Big Trees Transit, as it will be known, will cost $15 per person for a round trip. The service starts Memorial Day weekend – Saturday May 23rd.
