The Community Transit Board today adopted a service plan that will suspend all bus and paratransit service on Sundays and major holidays, as well as cut overall service by 15 percent. The service cuts will take effect on June 13, 2010.
In addition, the board approved a 25-cent fare increase on all local bus and DART paratransit trips, effective June 1, 2010.
The service cuts and fare increase were made in response to continually declining revenues from sales taxes. The latest monthly figures show a decline of nearly 21 percent in sales tax revenues from the same period in 2007.
The service cuts were largely similar to a proposal announced two months ago. However, the board today adopted several changes to that proposal that restored some service to certain routes. Details of the changes will be posted on the agency's website March 5, and this blog will be updated to reflect and link to those details.
Board Chair Dave Gossett, the current chair of the Snohomish County Council, opened discussion on changes to the service proposal by proposing to reduce weekday daytime frequencies on Route 101 from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Route 101 serves 128th Street/Airport Road from the Mariner Park & Ride east to Highway 99, then Hwy 99 to the Aurora Village Transit Center.
That proposal set an upper limit of savings that could offset other service restorations that were to come. The Route 101 amendment was passed.
Other amendments that were passed to restore service from the original proposal included:
Route 106 - Two southbound morning trips and two northbound evening trips through the North Creek Business Park area loop in Bothell between Canyon Park and UW Bothell were restored. Exact times of those trips is still to be determined.
Route 121 - Two northbound morning trips and two southbound evening trips serving the link on 23rd Avenue SE in Bothell between Canyon Park and UW Bothell were restored. Exact times of those trips is still to be determined.
Route 424 was restored to its current routing through Snohomish on all trips.
Route 477 will continue to serve Brier, but with modified routing between the Brier Park & Ride and the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center via 236th, 44th and 228th. This routing will be revisited in February 2011 when the Sound Transit I-5 flyer stop is scheduled to open.
Also, Gossett proposed a $50,000 fund be set aside to help mitigate the Sunday service cuts. Details on how this would be used are still to be worked out, but it may involve using community organizations who would provide transportation that is reimbursed through this fund. The intention is for this money to be used on trips that individuals need to make to get to work or church and who have no other transportation options.
The board adopted this revised plan unanimously.
Still under consideration are possible changes to Route 277 from Gold Bar to Everett, and Route 247 from downtown Stanwood to Everett. Additional information needed to be gathered to assess the cost of proposals to restore those services, so Gossett suggested that these two items be revisted at the April 1 board meeting.
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There is now a rumor that 80 drivers will be laid off instead of the original 55. Which will it be? How long can we be expected to be laid off.
ReplyDeleteWow. This must have been really tough for the CT Board. It was obvious from online comments and what I saw at a public meeting that no one wanted any cuts that affected them personally. I'm glad I didn't have to make that decision.
ReplyDeleteSad it had to come to this. Tough times. Most people will find a way to make do, like they always have.
ReplyDeletePoint is that maybe they could have done more before they resorted to these cuts. I mean why not do mandatory furloughs? Why not use up all of their bus reserve money? Why not fire everyone who doesn't drive a bus!
ReplyDeleteEarlier blog talked about how things are bad all over. My friend hasn't worked since last April. I bet this isnt the last cut we're going to hear about around the region.
ReplyDeleteI'm sick of hearing union leaders describing everyone who isn't a member as worthless. Since when does not being a member of a union mean that you don't contribute to society or do any work? Sheesh!!! Why should all the layoffs be non-union workers?? Even if you dont drive a bus,you matter. secretaries and IT workers and other office workers still put in a full days work! And the reason my boss gets paid a salary instead of hourly is she doesn't get paid overtime at 1 and !/2 everytime she puts in her extra 10-20 hours a week. Give it a rest.
ReplyDeleteAt least they modified some of their proposals. Looks like they listened to what we were telling them at the meetings.
ReplyDeleteI'm sick over the Sunday cuts. I hope maybe the churches can get together, maybe join up with some of the other non-profits and help fill in the gap.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the person who said that union-members bashing other non-union employees ain't cool and doesn't help their cause. Think it makes them look kinda stupid, IMHO. Think it all you want but shouldn't say it out loud.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the fifty thousand is a big enough carrot to get the churches off the dime to help pick up the slack for their members getting to church. I wouldn't think they would need the encouragement.
ReplyDeletethank you thank you for giving bothell back the two morning trips. you have no idea how thats gonna help getting to work!
ReplyDeleteI just wanna thank the board member who took the time to come out to the public meeting I was at. thanks for caring enough to listen.
ReplyDeleteNews was on the TV about the decision. Know it must have been a long meeting and hard decision to make. Understand that times are bad. Just praying for a economic turnaround so we can get Sunday service back.
ReplyDeleteOk, prices are going up, service is going down, because of revenues from income taxes going down...
ReplyDeleteSo the people who don't have jobs aren't riding the bus? Why is the rate going up a quarter again?
It is not income tax, it is sales tax that the agencies rely on.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that the legislature has decided not to take action this session to give Community Transit options other than cutting crucial bus service.
Speaking of crucial bus service, does anyone else notice that "Swift" seems to have been a huge waste of time? Is this really any better than the service that was there before?
ReplyDeleteSeems a lot of money was spent setting this up rather than maintaining existing services and fare prices, and I just wonder if Swift is really worth a damn or if it's just Swiftly wasting money
"The Community Transit Board today adopted a service plan that will suspend all bus and paratransit service on Sundays and major holidays"
ReplyDelete-Wait, does this mean CT buses won't run on Sundays? I don't see how that can be possible. As someone who uses CT to get anywhere, I will be left unable to work Sundays or visit out-of-town family over the weekend, because I will be left stranded in Seattle. Thanks a lot. What is the point of a bus service that doesn't run? CT isn't located in the sticks. Thousands of people NEED the services that CT is cutting back no or eliminating. It has gotten so hard for me to get from my house to EDCC, and if it gets any worse, I'm going to have to drop out. I am so bummed out now.
"I will be left unable to work Sundays"
ReplyDeleteSilly infedel, Sunday is the Lord's day and though shall rest!
I keep seeing comments blaming Swift...
ReplyDeleteSWIFT ISN'T TAKING MONEY FROM OTHER BUSES. The state and feds gave CT money to build and run Swift. CT wouldn't have gotten that money for any other service. If anything, Swift opens up money for other routes.
If Swift never existed, they'd still have to make these cuts.
I know it's fun to bash the new and shiny "waste of money", but seriously, at least get the facts right first.
Annonymous said...
ReplyDelete"Wait, does this mean CT buses won't run on Sundays?"
Jeez! Where have you been hiding? Under a rock? This was announced in January, notices on buses, etc.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"I'm sick of hearing union leaders describing everyone who isn't a member as worthless. Since when does not being a member of a union mean that you don't contribute to society or do any work? Sheesh!!! Why should all the layoffs be non-union workers?? Even if you dont drive a bus,you matter. secretaries and IT workers and other office workers still put in a full days work! And the reason my boss gets paid a salary instead of hourly is she doesn't get paid overtime at 1 and !/2 everytime she puts in her extra 10-20 hours a week. Give it a rest."
Nobody has said that the worker bee secretaries, IT workers etc, aren't working hard. What HAS been said is that there is a TOP HEAVY Management and the DIRECTORS are over paid and frankly, some of them should go but they saved their own a**! I know a few drivers and they would be more than happy to give up their 3% raise and that is being negotiated.
OK. So my question is this. Everett Transit spent HALF on Swift,there are 15 Swift buses in the fleet,why not train Everett Transit drivers to run Swift buses on Sun. and leave buses @ their HQ for the Sun. trip. Also the Kasch Park Rd depot will be open for Sound Transit buses however why can't you use the commuter buses to run @ least partially up 99 Aurora to Airport Rd(w/ some strategic alternative route like from MLT). Yes you can prob contract First Transit to cover the dispatch work on Sun. It sucks for me because if i have to work on Sun in Everett my coworkers/friends would have to go out of their way and come From Everett to Lynnwood back to Everett Roundtrip.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteNobody has said that the worker bee secretaries, IT workers etc, aren't working hard. What HAS been said is that there is a TOP HEAVY Management and the DIRECTORS are over paid and frankly, some of them should go but they saved their own a**! I know a few drivers and they would be more than happy to give up their 3% raise and that is being negotiated.
Really???? Top Heavy Management has already given up their raises, office workers have given up their raises, some of them are volunteering furlough days and you guys are just still negotiating giving up yours!!! If you really cared about your jobs or the company you'd get serious and follow their lead. Negotiating, hah. Sounds like the old union guys sitting around a table thinking about it, talking about, waiting to wrangle a better deal while you watch your new union brothers and sisters get laid off, and saying "oh well, that's the way it goes" while you scream outrage and disbelief that management would do something so despicable to them.
I agree with Rob.
ReplyDeleteThis sucks.
I bought my house with nearby bus service in mind.
I wish there was something I could do to help CT find the money to get this service back.
Waitaminute. Okay, I get it now. I think I'm seeing the pattern here. Same ol' tired song. I know how unions work too. I used to be in a union. Got family in unions now.
ReplyDeleteSo let's see, how does the chorus go again?
This is all about us! Management doesn't care about the customer, only we do. TOP HEAVY MANAGEMENT!! We do all the real work. THEY JUST SIT AROUND TALKING AND MEETING AND DOING NOTHING EXCEPT MISMANAGE! They don't listen to us. Things would be so much better if they would. They don't ask for our opinion. We should be the ones running the compnay. Cuts should start at the top. Cuts should happen everywhere but over here. They are soaking the public and get paid way too much, while we the true workers are starvin', cause they dont pay us what we deserve. They are dirty, no-good, lyin', thievin' Hobbitses who took our "precious"!
Yeah, sounds like the same old Smeagol/Gollum tripe that I got used to. See an opportunity to publicly smear or bring down management/company leadership and take it. Maybe strengthen your hand at the bargaining table.
If you really care about us riders, stop throwing mud and show it. Want fair cuts and layoffs? How about 1 for 1? For every company manager, layoff one of your union leaders. Don't force your newest coach operators to get bumped out the door. Bump from the most senior.
Naw, I didn't think so. Yeah....you really care about us riders.
Esauw32 said...
ReplyDeleteReally???? Top Heavy Management has already given up their raises, office workers have given up their raises, some of them are volunteering furlough days and you guys are just still negotiating giving up yours!!! If you really cared about your jobs or the company you'd get serious and follow their lead. Negotiating, hah. Sounds like the old union guys sitting around a table thinking about it, talking about, waiting to wrangle a better deal while you watch your new union brothers and sisters get laid off, and saying "oh well, that's the way it goes" while you scream outrage and disbelief that management would do something so despicable to them.
I AM one of the newer 'union brothers and sisters' to be laid off! Frankly, I don't think the union has been vocal enough and we drivers are being left out of the loop and hung out to dry. I'd gladly give up a 3% raise to keep my job but the union leaders and CT management have bad blood between them and they are letting that interfere with negotiations. Nobody has asked us our opinion or to put it to a vote! Meanwhile, 55 drivers and 7 mechanics will be laid off for God knows how long. The stress of it is unbelieveable!
The layoffs should be in EVERY department from the Top down to preserve service since last time I checked, that was CT's business! That is what Metro has done, City of Seattle, etc. Why hasn't CT? CT keeps saying they've done everything they can to save money. Cut about 5 Directors (about $500k+ in payroll) and then we might think they've done everything they can.
COMMUNITY TRANIST = BIG LIE AS FAT LIE
ReplyDeleteThere still might be a chance if SB 6774 passes. Call your Senator and tell them to concur on this bill! Its only $20 a year (thats 5 latte's a year people!) Is it worth it to you?! Hurry and call because they're voting today!
ReplyDeletehttp://seattletransitblog.com/2010/03/11/seal-the-deal-call-your-senators-to-save-pt-and-ct/