The following is a release from Snohomish County Community Transit:

In addition to expanding bus service in Snohomish County this fall, Community Transit will be awarding up to 10 surplus vans to local non-profit organizations to further meet demand for transportation.

“Even with more bus trips available this fall, there are transportation needs that fall outside of our route map and schedule times,” said Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath. “We want to partner with local community groups to help them meet those needs.”

The Van GO program was established in 2000 after Community Transit was forced to cut service when the state eliminated motor vehicle tax funding for transit. Since then, the agency has awarded 116 vans and wheelchair lift-equipped paratransit vehicles to qualified 501(c)3 organizations in Snohomish County.

This year, Community Transit will award up to 10 seven-passenger vans that have been recently retired from the agency’s vanpool fleet. They are 2007 Chevy Uplander vehicles with approximately 100,000 miles on them, and well maintained by the agency. These vans are not equipped with wheelchair lifts.

Applications for the vans are being accepted now at www.communitytransit.org/VanGo. There will be a pre-application workshop at 10 a.m. on June 30 in the Community Transit Board Room for groups interested in applying for one of the vans. Applications are due by Aug. 31. The vans will be awarded at the Oct. 6 Community Transit Board of Directors meeting.