Garfield County adopts Big Dry Transit Coordination Plan for FY2027; requests vehicle replacement

Garfield County commissioners approved the Big Dry Transit Coordination Plan for Fiscal Year 2027 during their Jan. 7 meeting.

Annette Thomas, representing the Senior Center and Big Dry Transit, presented the plan describing demand-response service across the county’s 1,361 miles of mostly gravel and dirt roads, weekday service hours and frequent long-distance medical trips to Miles City, Glasgow and Billings. Thomas said the system served many low-income residents, older adults and nursing home residents and noted growing ridership driven by the county’s demographic profile.

Thomas told the commission that Big Dry Transit drove more than 103,109 miles in fiscal year 2025 and that fuel-price fluctuations affect operations. She said the transit program has five vehicles in service—three accessible and two not accessible—and will apply this year for a new 6–7 passenger non-accessible minivan to replace the 2020 Honda Odyssey, which has 84,144 miles and is used almost daily. "We request a minimum 48-hour notice for scheduling out-of-town trips," Thomas said, explaining scheduling constraints for long-distance runs.

Commissioner McWilliams moved to approve the plan; Commissioner Collins seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Thomas also raised emergency preparedness for cold-weather power outages and suggested convening a meeting of county stakeholders to plan coordinated responses; commissioners agreed to assemble a list of participants and hold a meeting in the coming weeks.

The plan reiterates Big Dry Transit’s Title VI nondiscrimination obligations under Federal Transit Administration guidance.