As happens twice a year, Community Transit's schedules will change on Monday, Oct. 1.
Planners have continued tweaking schedules after the massive February service network restructuring. They have looked to close layover gaps (when buses are stopped between trips) and add running time to some routes that have had trouble keeping on schedule. Because of this, many routes will see trip times changed a couple minutes earlier or later. Check the online schedule or Bus Plus books.
There also are a couple of routing changes being made that reflect either customer preference or things that really didn't work out. A few changes are being made this fall, while others have been proposed for Feb. 2013.
Routes 105 and 115 will no longer drive into the McCollum Park Park & Ride. Low ridership for these routes at that location, coupled with the time it takes to pull into and out of that lot make this a good change to improve on-time performance. Those riders wishing to travel along Bothell-Everett Highway can still catch Route 106, or they can simply catch Routes 105 or 115 along 128th Street.
Route 240 took extra time to travel north past the Stillaguamish Senior Center to serve three low-ridership stops. Now the route will end at the senior center. Those northern stops will continue to be served by Route 220, and are within short walking distance for people who don't want to wait for a connecting bus. Again, this change will save time to help keep Route 240 on schedule.
Route 280 was rerouted in Lake Stevens when a traffic roundabout project was under construction. After it was completed, it turned out that buses couldn't make the turns. So, the reroute up Hwy 9 to Lundeen Parkway is becoming permanent.
The other change this fall, elimination of the downtown Seattle Ride Free Area, is subject of another blog post.
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with a 25 cent increase in fares...where will the 2.5 million dollars go?...that is enough money to pay for at least 30 new drivers...we will see more buses on the road any time soon?
ReplyDeleteThe proposed fare increase for 2013, if it is approved, would bring in about $2 million a year. As mentioned in the blog post on the increase, that money would help pay for increasing expenses (fuel, electricity, wages, medical benefits). Inflation is around 3-3.5 percent, so Community Transit needs to being in around $3 million more revenue each year just to keep service stable. In fact, Community Transit is adding more trips next February, but that is thanks to a federal grant.
DeleteI didn't realize that your ridership has dropped 25%...thats too bad
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where you heard that ridership has dropped 25 percent. That is not true. From May 2010 (the month before our first service cut) to May 2012 (three months after our most recent cut), ridership has dropped 4 percent. This is partly due to increased demand for transit, and partly due to the strategy of cutting or reducing trips on less productive service: mid-day and late-night trips, side streets and areas outside the high population centers.
DeleteFaced with the necessity to cut service, the plan the board of directors chose tried as best as possible to retain service where and when most people use it.
I love the fact that the 110 bus schedule changed to eliminate the 3:58 pickup to the ferry from Premera Blue cross but was not included in the Fall 2012 announcement. Half the time, the bus doesn't show up at the ferry in the morning and we have to wait for the next one. There is never any type of notification sent out to advise that the bus is not going to show...what is the point of getting alerts via text if they don't send them out.
ReplyDeleteJust one more example of how the customer is the last to know.
Thanks again Community Transit...may as well just start driving...at least I know that I will get to work on time and be able to get home at a decent time.
Thanks for pointing this out, I had to research it. There are five afternoon westbound Route 110 trips from MLT to Edmonds. With the Oct. 1 service change the first trip was dropped and one was added after the other four. The reason is that the early trip was averaging just a couple of passengers, while there has been customer demand for a later trip.
DeleteYou are right that this type of change should have been publicized. I wasn't aware of it, and I write up the public information materials on the service changes. I will ask better questions next time so we catch small changes like this. Sorry.