The Sunset Empire Transportation District recently resumed bus service on some of its routes in Clatsop County, including weekday service along Highway 101 between Astoria and Cannon Beach. The Astorian earlier reported that the transit district would restore some services after it had abruptly suspended operations and laid off workers due to a six-figure budget shortfall which first came to light at a district board meeting on April 27. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided a $505,000 emergency loan to the district to help it start operating again and bring back furloughed staff. It will also conduct an audit of the district’s finances in the coming weeks, according to Paul Lewicki, the interim executive director of the Sunset Empire Transportation District. Lewicki joins us to talk about the upcoming audit, the current and long term challenges the district faces, and why he thinks it may take six months or longer for transit services to be fully restored.