Langley Councilman Bruce Allen will be the city’s representative on the Island Transit board of directors.

He is taking over the city’s representation from Councilman Jim Sundberg, who did not seek re-election this fall. Sundberg was the last of the old guard, under which Island Transit saw major financial struggles that led to staff layoffs and route cuts in 2014 and 2015.

Things are creeping back to normal, according to Island Transit leaders who recently adopted a $15 million budget. Route 8 was already restored with some service, combined with Route 5 to create Route 58 that runs into Langley and along Saratoga Road.

Allen had been preparing to take over for months and regularly attending Island Transit board meetings.

“He hasn’t just been going, he’s provided me with moral support,” Sundberg said of Allen.

Sundberg received unanimous support from his fellow council members at the end of 2014 after the financial troubles became public. Outgoing Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley, who was quickly appointed to the Island Transit board after the money woes surfaced, had asked for Sundberg’s resignation or replacement. Langley refused, and spoke up for Sundberg’s financial oversight and institutional knowledge. Not once did the Langley City Council entertain a motion or even speak of one to remove Sundberg from his representative role on the Island Transit board, even as all of the other former directors from Coupeville, Oak Harbor and Island County were replaced.

Sundberg has been one of the sole voices championing the need to keep Island Transit fare free. It proved, in at least a couple of routes, to be a losing battle. In order to receive state funding, Island Transit had to take part in a fare pilot program with a pair of inter-county routes between Whidbey Island and Skagit County, and Mount Vernon and Camano Island.