Community Transit driver featured on Amazon Prime's Regular Heroes program

Community Transit bus driver Tiffany Underwood appears on the Amazon Prime Video program Regular Heroes in an episode released today. The series highlights the stories of essential workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each episode of the eight-part series, which premiered in May, follows three essential workers who go above and beyond to serve their communities during the pandemic.

Amazon Prime Video promo shot of CT Driver Tiffany Underwood

Tiffany has been driving essential workers and others throughout Snohomish County and to the University District. She's currently assigned as an extra-board driver, meaning she gets different route assignments each day based on work needed.

Filming of this segment took place in early June

The program captures the heart-tugging story of her role as a bus driver during the pandemic while caring for her teen daughter and other family members who live outside of her home.

Tiffany is especially excited for people to learn about what a day in the life of a driver is like. "I take so much pride in my job, so I was really thrilled to be part of this experience and so was my daughter Kipani," she said.

This episode also features Country music singer Brad Paisley who gifts each of the three featured heroes with special donations. Previous episodes have featured Alicia Keys, Nick Jonas and other stars.

Episode six of Regular Heroes premieres on Amazon Prime Video today. Watch a preview below.

Agencies Partner on Pop-Up Event for Unsheltered Riders

Community Transit temporarily suspended the collection of fares in March and asked all riders to board and exit through the middle and rear doors. This was done to allow for physical distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as recommended by public health officials.

During this time, we saw an increase in “non-destination” riders, many of whom shared with us that they were unsheltered and did not have access to hand-washing facilities, sanitizer or face coverings.

Riders heading to a bus after receiving hygiene kits

To support the health of these and all our transit riders, several agencies joined Community Transit to host a "pop-up" event at Everett Station in May to connect unsheltered people to community resources and personal protection equipment. The event was held in a parking lot close to Everett Station where agencies had set up pop-up tents.

People who stopped by the event were offered health screenings, information resources on shelter and food, hygiene kits (including face coverings and hand sanitizer), and information on ORCA LIFT, the reduced transit fare program available to income-eligible residents. Participants were also provided information on how to ride transit safely during the pandemic.

Community Transit employees made contact with more than 60 unsheltered people, and directed many of them from our buses to the outreach area.

Community partners included staff from the Snohomish Health District, City of Everett (Everett Transit and SAFE Team members), and Snohomish County (Emergency Management, Human Services, and Sheriff's Office).

We are evaluating the need for more pop-up events in the future. Meanwhile, fares on all Community Transit service resume July 1 and the agency will continue to support transit safety for our riders and employees.

 

Hygiene kits included face coverings and sanitizer 

Message From CEO Emmett Heath: Our Commitment to Each Other and to Our Core Values

Community Transit Colleagues,

I am sending this on behalf of myself and our entire leadership team.

This past week we have witnessed a passionate response across the nation and within the communities we serve to a pervasive, persistent and destructive pattern of systemic injustice. The death of George Floyd is the most recent tragedy of the injustice of racism and the abuse of power. Intolerance in general, and intolerance toward African Americans in particular, is perpetuating a loathsome practice of racism and inequity for African Americans in this country. Together with the family, friends, and community, we mourn the unjust death of George Floyd.

Many within the communities we serve may be experiencing pain, grief, and mental and emotional fatigue. We want to acknowledge that there is an additional layer of stress, fear, trauma and perhaps a feeling of the need to bury these feelings and go about business as usual for African American people in our community. To those feeling this way, we see you and we acknowledge your pain.

At Community Transit, we are committed to bringing together and supporting employees and community members of every race and background. This commitment is outlined very clearly through our Core Values, most notably Equity & Inclusion and Mutual Respect.

Our goal is to serve all in our community equitably. We respect, value and celebrate our employees and our customers as unique individuals with equal worth. As a service provider, we consistently seek opportunities to better meet the needs of all in our workforce and in our community so they may reach their full potential. As an employer, we are deeply committed to equal opportunity and do not tolerate discrimination in any form in our workplaces.

For all of our employees, please remember that we have Employee Engagement staff ready to listen and an Employee Assistance Program that provides emotional, financial and legal support for all our employees and dependents. Please reach out if you need help.

You have my commitment and that of the entire leadership team that we will continue to work to ensure each and every one of our employees and the community members we serve feels supported and respected at all times. We will use our Core Values to guide us as we seek to listen, to understand, and to do better.  We can always do better. We are learning and are always open to feedback. We are here for each and every one of you. As you may engage in discussion and reflection in the coming days, please model our Core Values as we work together to make progress toward an ever more equitable future for all. Thank you.

Emmett Heath 

Chief Executive Officer