Service Increases Coming this Fall

Community Transit is adding a modest amount of bus service in September. A proposal of where that new service will go was announced earlier this month, and public comment is being taken through May 2.

This is the first of two planned service increases; the second will be in June 2015.

Community Transit is able to add service because sales tax revenue has been higher this past year. You may recall that it was a massive drop in sales tax revenue (which is our primary funding source) in 2008 that led to our service cuts in 2010 and 2012.

The two service increases planned for this year and next are just a fraction of what was cut (32,500 service hours being added vs. 160,000 service hours that were cut), but it is significant enough that Sunday service may be able to return in 2015.

The additions planned for this fall will address some problems that came about after our last cut in 2012. We also are doing our best to run a highly efficient operation, given our limited resources, so one of the proposals is to eliminate Route 110, which has had few riders since it was created in 2012. That frees up service hours for other improvements that will serve
many more people.

Please check out the proposal and send your comments. Later this fall, after these changes have been made, we will announce plans for the 2015 service increase based on the input you have been giving us the past two years.

We invited discussion on this blog and our other social media, but remember, if you want to submit formal comments you must send them to servicechange@commtrans.org.

Curb the Congestion Expands to I-405

Curb the Congestion is better than ever as the program expands to I-405!

The program offers resources and rewards to residents and employees who use smart travel options such as bus, carpooling, vanpooling, biking or walking.  We have seen pretty dramatic results since the program launched in 2008, with over 3,650 participants removing 375,000 trips from local congested roadways.

This year the program expanded to provide resources and rewards to people traveling on these five congested Snohomish County roadways:

• NEW I-405 (between Lynnwood and SR-522)

• 128th Street (between Everett and Mill Creek) 

• 164th Street SW/SE (between Lynnwood and Mill Creek) 

• 196th Street (between Edmonds and I-5) 

• Bothell-Everett Highway (between 128th Street and downtown Bothell) 

Choose a smarter trip on one of these corridors at least 8 days a month and you could win the following incentives.  

• Monthly Rewards: Receive $50 a month for three months!

• Continue to log smarter trips to qualify for a $150 drawing each month and earn a coupon for a discount or free item at a local business through our Preferred Partner Reward program.

• Recruiter Rewards: Earn up to $100 a year when you refer friends, neighbors or co-workers.

For more information on the program or assistance with your travel options, visit www.communitytransit.org/CurbIt or contact our Curb the Congestion Outreach Specialist at (425) 438-6136 or CurbIt@commtrans.org. 

Smart Commuters Recognized at 17th Annual Awards Luncheon

On April 10, Community Transit recognized the achievements of employers, Employee Transportation Coordinators and smart commuters from across Snohomish County and Bothell at our 2013 Smart Commuter Awards Luncheon.

This year’s honorees prove that choosing sustainable transportation options not only help individuals save money and stress, but also make our community a better place to live and work for everyone.

Smart Commuter of the Year – Lynette Boulch, Premera Blue Cross

Lynette has been committed to choosing smarter ways to work for over 25 years.  She’s currently a vanpool driver and has recruited numerous new vanpool riders over the years.  When she’s not vanpooling, she takes the bus to work.

Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year – Karen Lee Kimber, Swedish Edmonds

Karen has been in her role as an Employee Transportation Coordinator for over 20 years and continues to make an impressive mark on her company’s Commute Trip Reduction program.  This year, Karen developed a “HAVEAGR8RIDE” newsletter that gives her employees the cost of driving alone, tips on how to find other commute options and how to determine their carbon footprint.

Employer of the Year – AT&T

AT&T has had a great commute program for many years.  In 2013, AT&T promoted seven different campaigns to educate and encourage employees to choose smart options to driving alone.  The result of the campaigns was phenomenal, including having 47 employees log more than 14,063 bicycle commute miles during an eight week bike competition.  Not only does AT&T’s management support these activities for their employees, they also provide ORCA Passport that provides transit and vanpool fares for their employees.

The 2013 award recipients were all from businesses throughout Snohomish County and Bothell who support Washington State’s Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) goals.  Community Transit receives funding from the state to help these employers reduce drive alone vehicle trips to their worksites by providing services such as the Smart Commuter Awards, advanced training for Employee Transportation Coordinators, a Guaranteed Ride Home program, transportation fairs and resources on commute options to approximately 24,000 employees at 74 worksites.

More details and the list of the winners and nominees are posted on Community Transit’s website.  To learn more about Community Transit’s services for employers, visit www.communitytransit.org/ChoiceConnections.