Community Transit

Earling Rejoins Community Transit Board

2012-01-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

A longtime friend of Community Transit is rejoining the agency’s Board of Directors. Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, who spent 12 years on the board during the 1990s and early 2000s, was chosen as one of the large city representatives in the biennial board selection process on Jan. 26.

He is the lone “new” face on the nine-member board. Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, Mill Creek Mayor Mike Todd, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith, Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine, Stanwood Mayor Dianne White and Sultan Council Member Steven Slawson were re-elected to their positions at the meeting.

Earlier this month, the Snohomish County Council reappointed Council members Dave Gossett and Dave Somers as its representatives. Lance Norton serves as the board’s labor representative, chosen by the agency's union leadership.

Gossett is the only current board member who served with Earling during his previous stint on the board. During Earling’s first tenure on the Community Transit Board, he served a term as board chair. He also was on the Sound Transit Board of Directors for several years, chairing that body as well.

Every two years, elected officials from the cities that make up Community Transit meet to elect board members from among their ranks. Based on the current composition scheme, the delegates divide up by city size and choose from among their peers. Edmonds, Lynnwood and Marysville are the large cities, with more than 30,000 residents. Arlington, Bothell, Lake Stevens, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace and Mukilteo are the medium cities, with between 10,000 and 30,000 residents. Brier, Darrington, Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Index, Snohomish, Stanwood, Sultan and Woodway are the small cities, with fewer than 10,000 residents.

Large cities choose two board members, medium cities three and small cities two. The two County Council members and labor representative round out the board.

While Earling is the only new board member selected, three new board alternates were chosen. Arlington Council member Debora Nelson, Lake Stevens Council member Kim Daughtry and Lynnwood Council member Sid Roberts will serve as alternates, along with Snohomish Council member Tom Hamilton. County Council member Stephanie Wright is back as that body’s alternate.

Former Lynnwood Council member Ted Hikel left the Community Transit Board after a narrow defeat in November. He had served on the board from 2006-2008 and from 2010 until December, and was an alternate in between those terms. Alternates who left their roles include Chris Raezer from Arlington, Steve Bernheim from Edmonds and John Stima from Monroe.

Prior to the board selection, the delegates from the member cities discussed the composition of the board, which is reviewed every four years. If a majority approves, they could decide to apportion board members by geography, a different population scheme or alphabetic order. The group decided to keep the board make-up the same for the next four years, based on the 2011 city populations.

The new board will elect officers at its first meeting, on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Where's My Bus?

2012-01-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

Icy, Snowy Conditions Make It Difficult to Keep to Schedule

Day Three of the 2012 snow storm is nearly complete, and buses are still on the road. Demand has been down this week, but many, many people are relying on Community Transit buses to get to work or wherever they need to go.

Today, our local buses deviated from our regular schedule because many roads were in bad condition due to accumulated snow and ice, and because predictions for today were worse than what actually materialized.

A combination of factors led to this schedule: we can't use articulated buses on icy roads (unless we chain them but those chains then break or severely slow down the buses on clear roads); like any business, we don't get everyone to show up on bad weather days; and our buses are interlined so that one bus may serve, say Route 120 for a trip, then it turns into Route 118. With fewer buses running and trips taking longer, the trips we can actually provide is like a patchwork among our routes.

This is hard to message to riders. What we said this morning is that we'd serve the first and last trips on each route, and there would likely be some buses in between. Not too helpful. We encouraged people to call customer information to learn if a bus was running on their route.

The good news is that buses were running all day on all routes, just not on regular schedule. That also may not be very helpful if you're trying to figure out when to travel, but we were able to provide a lot of service today. We also got more than 1,800 phone calls as riders asked where their bus was. Again, we couldn't tell them where it was but at least could say there was one out there, on the way.

On Seattle commuter routes, the Double Talls have proven their value. Not only can they fit more people than a regular bus, but they operate just fine in these conditions. By replacing old articulated buses with these double deckers, we have greatly increased the capacity we have for commuter service on snow days.

We have, and will continue to send alerts on any reroutes or major changes to service. Those are also posted on our website as soon as we get the information. Like our drivers and maintenance crews, our customer service and communications staff are working long days to provide you service.

Weather Can Be Unpredictable

2012-01-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

Last night, after a day of reroutes and bus delays from the snow that had fallen in parts of Snohomish County, we expected major revisions to today's (Tuesday's) bus service. Forecasters were calling for lots of snow overnight and into this morning.

On our website we put up an alert (as we do every night before bad weather) saying that service would be very limited, commuter buses would be first and last trip only, etc., etc. This morning, that all changed.

Buses were on regular routes and regular schedules today. But many people relied on last night's alert, and we were slow to change that. Our mistake. On top of all that, there was a glitch with our electronic alert vendor so the revised alert we sent out at 5 a.m. took up to an hour to reach some customers.

My point is, forecasts change. We are committed to keeping our website updated with the latest information so you can check just before you leave your house and know whether your bus is running, your route is diverted or you should expect delays. And, if you sign up for electronic alerts by route or park & ride, you should get that information sent to your email address or a text to your phone.

Despite having fewer communications staff available (one gone, one soon leaving due to the layoffs), we are dropping everything else on snow days to provide the most up-to-date information. Please keep riding!

Van GO - Filling the Niches of Transportation Demand

2012-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

As a community service, the Van GO program is like a reward to local non-profits that serve Snohomish County residents – the chance at a cost-free vehicle. As a transportation service, Van GO helps to fulfill community travel needs that could not be replicated by regular transit service.

At a time when regular transit service is being cut, Van GO may mean even more. That’s how the program was born in 2000, when the state cut MVET funding to transit agencies and Community Transit cut its bus service by 30 percent, including all weekend service. The agency sought board permission to grant a portion of its surplus vehicles rather than sell them all at auction. Vehicles bought with only local funding are awarded; those purchased with state or federal money are auctioned.

A surplus vanpool van generally nets about $2,300 at auction. For a transit agency, that money might translate into one bus on one route for one day. To a non-profit organization, the chance of getting such a vehicle without charge is worth much more. In exchange, organizations must promise to use the vehicle for specific community needs and must estimate the number of rides they will provide in a competitive application. Those organizations that show they can meet a great need are selected to receive the vans.

This year, 10 local non-profits received eight-passenger vans with about 150,000 miles on them.

They are: Cocoon House East (Monroe), Everett Gospel Mission, Kid’s Place Early Learning Center (pictured above - Darrington), Lake Stevens Senior Center, Northwest Baptist Church (Marysville), Holly House (Edmonds), Snohomish Community Food Bank, Work Opportunities (Lynnwood), Village Community Services (Arlington) and Youth Dynamics (Arlington).

Once a vehicle is granted to a group, they are responsible for it, including all maintenance and insurance. Grantees provide reports to Community Transit about the usage and rides provided for the first year, although the vans generally remain in service for many years. The 106 vehicles granted over the program’s 12 years have provided tens of thousands of rides that our buses typically wouldn’t serve.

This year’s program reminds us of the origins of Van GO. We’re preparing for a major service cut in February. These vehicles help to make up for some of the service reductions. It’s just another way we’re working to meet Snohomish County’s transportation needs.

New Schedules Online

2012-01-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

The new bus schedules effective Feb. 20 are now online at the Community Transit website.

This is the piece of information many riders have been waiting for since the Board of Directions made a service change decision last September. With the schedules, riders will be able to see what times their bus will run, and how their transit connections might work once service has changed on Feb. 20.

Meanwhile, integrating the new schedule information with our online Trip Planner is a more complicated project, so you cannot yet plan a trip for Feb. 20 using that tool. That update will be complete in early February. That trip planning tool is the same one our customer information staff use, so until early February they will not be able to plan complex trips for after the service change.

In early February, Bus Plus schedule books will also be available on buses. Those books contain the print version of the schedules that you can now get online.

Last week, more detailed service change route information was made available online and on buses, and now schedules are available. Later this week, staff will begin an outreach effort to make sure riders are aware of the upcoming changes and answer questions. Community Transit staff will be at the Canyon Park Park & Ride this Thursday during the afternoon commute hours, then they will be at Edmonds Community College on Jan. 18 and Everett Station the morning of Jan. 19, weather permitting.

Riders with web access can get information easily through the Community Transit website. Discussions about the service change are going on here on the blog and on our Facebook page. Specific questions can always be sent to riders @ commtrans.org or asked via phone at (425) 353-7433 (RIDE).

February 2012 Route Information is Online

2012-01-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

We are now several days into the new year and more details are available about the upcoming Feb. 20 service change. This is one of the largest service changes in our agency’s history—every route will be affected, although the commuter service to the University District will see only minor schedule changes.

In all, nine routes are being eliminated, 20 routes have changes to their routing and 29 routes will have fewer trips scheduled. There also will be two new routes, one in south county along 196th between Edmonds and Alderwood, and one in north county taking over the eastern portion of Route 240 between Smokey Point and Arlington.

The information now online is the same information that is in the Guide to Service Change that is going on buses this week. That booklet provides comprehensive information about the routing changes, trip reductions or frequency reductions, and tips for connections for each route. There are also maps for each route that has routing changes, and area maps to show how the service will connect in various geographic areas.

What the Guide to Service Change does not have are the specific schedules or bus stop lists for each route. Those will be available online soon, and the Bus Plus schedule books will be on buses at the beginning of February.

Here is an example of what information is in the Guide and online now:

Route 113: Mukilteo–Ash Way Park & Ride
Routing Changes - Map (shown above):
• Revised route ends at Ash Way Park & Ride instead of Lynnwood Transit Center.
• No service south of 164th Street.
Weekday Schedule: Daytime frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
Saturday Service: Frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to every hour.
Connecting Routes: Swift, Routes 101, 112, 115, 116, 119, 201, 202, 413, 415, 417, 810, 860, 880, 885, 511, 532, Everett Transit, Sounder, Washington State Ferries.
Route 113 Rider Tips:
• Routes 112 and 113 will connect at Ash Way Park & Ride instead of Lynnwood.
• For service to Alderwood mall or Lynnwood Transit Center, passengers can transfer at 164th Street & 35th Ave. or Ash Way Park & Ride to Routes 115, 116, 201 or 202, all of which have frequent service.

The map shows the new routing, along with what section has been deleted. The rider tips explain that riders wanting to get to Alderwood, Lynnwood Transit Center or the Lynnwood Civic Center can transfer to specific buses to get there.

What riders will discover as they begin to use the newly designed service is that Route 113 now connects to the Ash Way Park & Ride, which has connections all over the county and to Seattle so there are new opportunities. It will take some getting used to, but our planners, faced with the financial reality of cutting 20 percent of our service, redesigned many routes to shorten trips, connect to other service and open up new opportunities.

Because some riders will need to transfer when they didn’t need to before, it is even more important for people to get an ORCA card if they don’t have one. With ORCA, your fare is transferred to any other trip you take in the next two hours.

In the coming days, and for the next two months, we’ll have more information here and on the website about the Feb. 20 service change.

When Your CEO is your Talent: Delivering the Service Change Message

2011-12-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

By Karen Johnson, Video & Design Supervisor

“Joyce, please do that line over again and pause after the word ‘customers.’”

The talent, Joyce Eleanor, is our CEO. The video team - two of her employees from Customer Relation’s Marketing Division - create the concept, draft the script, produce, direct and edit the production, and then post it to the website. The topic is the upcoming February 2012 Service Change.

Joyce is a passionate and effective communicator. As the face of our agency, she speaks from her heart. Her message is authentic because she’s talking about the agency she leads, and the employees - her employees - who have lost their jobs. She has listened to the riders who are deeply impacted by the service cuts. Any other spokesperson would be unacceptable.

Producing a video to deliver information about service changes is just one way we use video on our website as a tool for our customers. We have also developed How to Ride videos in several languages for our customers, as well as another to become familiar with Swift bus rapid transit. Community Transit riders and civic leaders also contributed their own video storytelling testimonials in their own words.

Community Transit’s training division uses our videos during employee orientation to acquaint new staff with policies and agency culture. Plans for 2012 include instructional video shorts – brief, simple videos that demonstrate how to use our Trip Planner, how to use Swift, and a variety of other useful services. We recently created an online Video Gallery that contains all the videos we’ve produced.

Videos provide the opportunity for broad messaging in a timely manner to our many audiences.
And because we produce the videos entirely in-house, we are able to be responsive and accurate, at no cost to the agency other than staff resources.

“Cut! Great job, Joyce. But I need you to do that line one more time.”

ORCA Reaches Operational Milestone

2011-12-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

The multi-party agreement that created the ORCA smart card project was signed in 2003. Community Transit was the first agency to sign on and has been a regional leader in transitioning riders to the ORCA card. Currently, more than 70 percent of all Community Transit bus riders use the ORCA card; the percentage is even higher on commuter service to UW and downtown Seattle.

Although the ORCA system went live more than two years ago, the project just received Full System Acceptance (FSA) last week. That milestone means that ORCA is no longer a “project” for the partner agencies, but is simply the basic fare system.

Nothing changes for the public or our employees with FSA, but it begins a new phase for ORCA. Vix, the company formerly known as ERG which manages the system, begins a contract to operate the system for the next 10 years. All new changes to the system will be charged (up until now changes that made the system work correctly were considered part of the project contract). Most importantly, additions to the system can be made, whether it be new agencies coming on board, new products offered or new functionality for the ORCA cards.

The Joint Board, which is made up of CEOs and general managers from the seven partner agencies, will take time in considering what changes to make to ORCA. The system still has some operational kinks, but the program is a big success. Of the nearly 500,000 people who ride transit daily in the Puget Sound Region, about 300,000 of them use ORCA cards to pay their fare. A big percentage of those are workers and students whose employer or school provides an ORCA card. The number of business institutions has gone up since ORCA replaced the PugetPass system.

Tell us what your experience with ORCA has been, good, bad or in between.

Buying Local Can Help Spark the Economy

2011-12-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

About this time last year, Community Transit launched the Buy Local for Transit campaign. The point is to encourage our bus riders and the general public to shop within our Snohomish County service area to generate revenues for our agency through sales tax (9 cents of every $10 taxable purchase goes to Community Transit). In addition to preventing future service cuts, that business activity also helps local businesses, local cities and the local economy.

If you have read our draft six-year Transit Development Plan, you know that our forecasts project very modest economic growth over the next six years. With that, there are no plans to increase transit service. Unless the economy rebounds.

It would be hard to measure the success of this campaign since any increase in sales tax revenue can be attributed to many factors, but we know the premise is sound. Increased spending in our service district helps our bottom line.

Community Transit has put Buy Local for Transit decals on our all our buses, created a webpage for the program and we describe our efforts in boilerplate language at the end of all our press releases that we send to local media.

A few of our buses have a larger Buy Local for Transit wrap that prominently touts the program everywhere they travel.

We know this is a good message because it is positive, economically upbeat and is a call to action. The idea came from rider suggestions when we held our community meetings for the 2010 service cuts. Concerned riders asked what could they do to help our agency. As we considered what riders could do we came up with this solution: buy local, generate sales tax.

As the holiday season approaches and many of our riders and their families and friends are out shopping, the message is more important than ever. Buy local, support your community and support Community Transit.

Swift Celebrates Second Birthday

2011-11-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

It was two years ago this week that Community Transit, in partnership with Everett Transit, launched Swift bus rapid transit. When it opened, Swift had 12 stops in each direction along a 17-mile stretch of Highway 99 between Everett and Shoreline. There are now 14 stops in each direction, as four stops were added in the City of Everett earlier this year.

In October 2011, Swift had an average of 4,500 passengers ride each weekday. That totaled more than 107,000 passengers for the month – the highest ridership month so far. To put that in perspective, that means in October one out of every 7.7 weekday passengers on Community Transit was riding Swift. On Saturdays, that percentage was even greater as one out of every 4.7 riders was on Swift!

Riders know that Swift is a unique experience, but operationally, Swift stands out among our routes. It is the most frequent service in our system, with a bus arriving every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Swift also has the most service hours of any of our routes, as the service runs from 5 a.m. to midnight, with more buses per hour during that long day. Of course, Swift is also the only route in our system that has off-board fare payment, which helps speed up the boarding process, frees up the drivers to focus on driving and requires fare checkers, known as Swift Ambassadors.

Swift is also the only route in our system that receives specific grant funding. State and federal grants combine to pay for a majority of the operating costs through 2013.

Swift also has been a victim of Community Transit’s service cuts. In June 2010, Swift lost Sunday service, just like the rest of our bus routes. In February 2012, Swift frequencies will be cut back to every 12 minutes on weekdays. To most riders this may not make a big difference, but from an operational perspective, this means big cost savings. There will be one fewer bus going in each direction each hour, saving the cost of a bus driver, the cost of fuel, and the cost of maintenance and depreciation on vehicles that will travel fewer miles because of this reduction.

Finally, what would a Swift birthday be without some poetry from rider Margaret Elwood?

----------------
Our favorite bus just turned two!
Dear Swift, Happy Birthday to you!
It's undeniable:
Fast, clean, reliable-
That's how your ridership grew.

----------------
At the end of your second year
Here's a rhyme to wish you good cheer.
Swift bus, you're a treasure.
Your service-a pleasure!
I'm glad every time you appear.

Prepare for Winter Weather

2011-11-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

by Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

Perhaps you’ve heard that “a butterfly flaps its wings in China, and it rains in Brazil.” That’s how it is for Community Transit when it comes to snow.

We cover 1,300 square miles of Snohomish County. That can mean some long trips, like Route 201 between Smokey Point and Lynnwood. Snow throws a wrench in the works. We’ve seen days with six inches of snow north of Marysville and none in south county. So the bus starting at Smokey Point needs chains and is delayed. As it moves out of the snow zone, the chains need to come off. More delays. And in the end, people in Lynnwood are wondering, “Why is our bus late?”

That’s why we post Rider Alerts on our website when snow is expected. The first alert may be a general warning. Once the flakes fly, we’re on it, day and night. If snow falls overnight, we post our first alert by 5 a.m. and continue throughout the day into the evening. Every time something changes in local service, we post an alert. For commuters, there’s the 5 a.m. alert followed by a report by 2 p.m. outlining the evening commute. By 8 p.m. we have a forecast for the following morning’s commute, when we’re back at it with a more detailed 5 a.m. report.

We also offer an electronic alert system that sends notices by email or text. We'll send the same general alert out to all subscribers as we post on the website, but if your route's routing or schedule changes during the day we'll let you know.

The addition of 23 double decker buses to our commuter fleet should improve service in the snow. These Double Talls replaced our oldest 60-foot articulated buses. The 42-foot Double Talls can operate like any standard bus in slippery conditions. Artics can jack-knife easily when it’s icy, so the few times a year we get snow, we often pull them from service. That’s also why on snowy days you may see regular 30-or 40-foot buses running on Swift.

If it does snow, check our website for major delays before you head out. Dress warmly, because buses likely will be delayed if snow is sticking to the roads. And remember, just because it’s not sticking in your neighborhood, it may be elsewhere. Check to see if we’re on a reroute, or try to get to main roads, where service can operate more easily. If your stop is on a hill, wait at the top or bottom of the hill and flag down the driver; buses can be hard to stop or start mid-hill when it’s icy.

We’re ready for winter weather at Community Transit. If it snows, we want you to feel comfortable that you can rely on the bus to get you where you need to go.

Join the Curb Club

2011-11-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

By Debbie Anderson, Transportation Demand Management and Outreach Specialist

Suzanne D., Ph.D., rides the bus to work almost daily. As a biostatistician for the University of Washington, research is a part of her everyday work. Finding a smarter way to work and saving money – no Ph.D. required!

Through Community Transit’s Curb the Congestion program, information about how a person’s travels impacts her community can be gleaned once that person switches from driving alone to an alternative mode of travel.

Suzanne says, “Curb the Congestion is a useful way to provide important information to Community Transit, to obtain some monetary incentives, and to get stats concerning how much you save in terms of gas, mileage and the prevention of pollutants into the environment.”

Curb the Congestion is offering great rewards for participants. Log trips on at least 8 days monthly in your online calendar and you may be eligible to receive a $50 bus or vanpool voucher, gas card or REI gift card for three consecutive months. After those initial three months, participants are eligible for a monthly $150 drawing. (Incentives are funded by Snohomish County through federal grants and developer fees.) Visit www.communitytransit.org/CurbIt for complete eligibility rules.

Participants can also recruit family, friends and co-workers and receive an additional $25 incentive, up to four times!

Curb the Congestion offers participants personal assistance in finding carpools, planning bus trips and considering other alternatives to driving alone. You can contact your personal assistant at CurbIt@commtrans.org or (425) 438-6136.

Curb the Congestion is a partnership between Community Transit and Snohomish County to reduce traffic and encourage healthy travel options on congested roadways. Curb the Congestion is funded by Snohomish County through development mitigation fees and federal grants.

The program started in 2008 after Snohomish County declared 164th Street SW between Lynnwood and Mill Creek at “ultimate capacity,” creating a program to invest in transportation demand management and safety improvements rather than halt development or try to widen already built-out roads. In 2009, the county added 128th Street south of Everett and 20th Street SE near Lake Stevens to the Curb the Congestion program.

Curb the Congestion is helping relieve the congestion on these roadways. So far in 2011, the program has removed almost 56,000 drive alone trips, reduced travel by more than 1.2 million miles and has saved participants over $196,000 in fuel costs.

If you travel on one of the targeted roads, contact the Curb the Congestion Specialist about your commute options: (425) 438-6136 or CurbIt@commtrans.org.

"Minor" Holiday Service

2011-11-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

For transit agencies, figuring out how much service to put on the road on holidays is a guessing game. In good times, you might err on the side of providing more service and risk having empty buses. In frugal times, you might constrict service to the point that it inconveniences some riders.

Well, these are frugal times and many riders have been inconvenienced by the fact that Community Transit no longer operates on six “major” holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The rationale for cutting service on those days, along with Sundays, was that those holidays are more universally observed and transit demand was much lower. Plus, drivers were paid premium pay to drive on those low ridership days, making that service very expensive to operate.

Community Transit still operates on four “minor” holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Friday. These are days when some businesses are closed and transit demand is lower than a typical weekday, but there are still a significant number of people riding the bus.

On these minor holidays, Community Transit usually runs a regular local service schedule. Even if people aren’t working those days, they still travel to do shopping, run errands or visit family.

On these days we reduce commuter service to downtown Seattle and the University District based on expected demand. For instance, this Friday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. History tells us that few people change their work schedules and demand for commuter service that day remains high, so we’re running a regular schedule on all service that day. However, on Thanksgiving Friday, Nov. 25, we will operate only Route 414 with extra trips into downtown Seattle and only Route 855 to the University District. Past experience has shown that few people (about 20 percent) take our buses to Seattle on “Black Friday.”

As we prepare to cut service a second time in three years, it is a coincidence that our first day of the new service change is Presidents Day, Feb. 20, 2012. We might have run a reduced commuter schedule, but because our service will be reduced from what we operate now, we have decided to run a regular schedule that day. We’ll see how that goes.

Do you, or did you ever ride the bus on holidays?

Highway 99 survey examines corridor post-Swift

2011-10-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

The highway from Everett to Shoreline has long been Snohomish County’s busiest transit corridor. But how has Swift bus rapid transit changed the way people travel this road?

Prior to launching Swift in 2009, Community Transit and Everett Transit did a survey of bus riders in the corridor to learn about their transit use and demographics. The agencies will be conducting a similar survey next week.

Survey teams will ride Routes 7, 9, 101 and Swift on Nov. 1, 2 and 5 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday). The surveyors will ask bus riders to fill out a quick paper survey on their riding choices and habits. Some questions get at understanding who the rider is and how s/he uses transit: daily, weekly, infrequently, for work, school, recreation, etc. Other questions ask whether a rider takes whatever bus comes along or chooses to ride only Swift or local service for various reasons.

Results of this survey could help Community Transit plan and receive funding for future Swift lines. The information also will help reveal what impact Swift has had on the Highway 99 corridor.

Why do you choose to ride Swift, or not to?

Dick's opens restaurant along Swift line

2011-10-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

“Dick’s is the place where the cool hang out,” according to Sir Mix a Lot. With the opening of the new Edmonds location today (scheduled for 3 p.m.), Mix and his posse can now take Swift bus rapid transit to get a deluxe with fries.

The new Dick’s is less than a city block from the Swift stations at 216^th Street on Highway 99, in the Top Foods parking lot. Several other buses converge on this location, Routes 101, 110, 112, 405, 406 and 871. Transit presents a great option for getting your burger, but don’t eat on the bus!

The anticipated opening of the first Snohomish County Dick’s location helps Community Transit’s bottom line. The agency receives 0.9 percent of every sales tax dollar spent in the service district, so your $10 Dick’s purchase sends 9 cents to support transit service! If you really want to help, eat more!

What are some of your favorite eateries or entertainment destinations that you get to on Community Transit?

Local businesses shine at state commute awards

2011-10-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

When it comes to commute trip reduction, local companies Amgen and Esterline Control Systems, Korry Electronics are leading the way. They are two Snohomish County businesses that work with Community Transit’s Employer Outreach program, which helps companies throughout the county meet state requirements to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road.

Their efforts also helped each earn a Governor’s Smart Commute Award last week. Amgen was honored with the Employer Leadership Award for Voluntary Employers while Esterline Korry received the Employer Champion Award for Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Affected Employers in Snohomish County.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Commute Trip Reduction law, which requires Washington businesses with 100 or more employees to develop programs that encourage their staff to use alternatives to driving alone for their commute. Worksites with fewer than 100 employees can participate in the program voluntarily.

Amgen and Esterline Korry are shining examples of success. Both offer ORCA pass programs that allow their employees unlimited access to buses, trains and vanpools in the Puget Sound region. The also have internal programs to support CTR goals and provide a guaranteed ride home program so employees who choose to use a commute alternative don’t get stranded without a ride home in case of an emergency.

Amgen’s Bothell Campus remains part of the state’s commute trip reduction program even though the company transferred employees to other sites so the Bothell campus has fewer than 100 employees. In addition to the other benefits, Amgen offers a subsidy to employees that walk, bike or carpool to work on a regular basis.

Its transportation program helped Esterline Korry retain almost its entire workforce when it moved from Seattle to Mukilteo two years ago. Thanks to quality transportation benefits, 51 percent of the company’s Mukilteo employees use an alternative to driving alone.

Amgen and Esterline Korry offer two examples of how CTR programs can help businesses attract and retain experienced, well-trained employees. If you or your company is interested in providing an employee transportation program, Community Transit’s Employer Outreach is ready to help.

Viaduct Closure Could Delay Later Commuter Buses

2011-10-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

While Community Transit does not operate bus service on the Alaskan Way viaduct, there are 110,000 reasons a nine-day closure of that structure starting Oct. 21 could impact the agency’s service. Each day the week of Oct. 24-28, there could be 110,000 cars forced onto city streets instead of their regular trip along the viaduct.

The City of Seattle expects delays of about five minutes to cross downtown on city streets from all that extra traffic. In Community Transit’s case, those five minutes will add up, literally. Many Community Transit commuter buses make their first trip through the city, then return for a second, third and even fourth trip. That’s a five-minute delay each trip. And that doesn’t account for other potential delays – heavy traffic, accidents, traffic signals. We expect delays of 20 minutes or more on some of our later trips due to the closure.

So what’s a commuter to do? Here are a few suggestions:
• Try to take an earlier trip, before those delays have a chance to pile up.
• Look at other Community Transit routes. Several routes go to more than one transit center, offering several alternatives to a destination.
• If you travel with an ORCA card, you can ride a bus to one transit center, then transfer to a local bus to get to where you parked without paying extra.
• Talk to your boss about flexing your schedule or even working from home.
• Consider taking Sounder. Trains should not be impacted by the viaduct closure, and buses connect Sounder with several transit centers.

The viaduct closure will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. It will allow crews to demolish the southern mile of the viaduct and attach the remaining portion to the new Highway 99. The Washington State Department of Transportation expects to work to be completed by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31.

Of course, all the media hype about our own Northwest "Carmageddon" could influence enough people not to drive their cars downtown that week, and things won't be so bad. That's reason enough to watch the morning traffic report and check our online Rider Alerts to see how things are going during the closure. With some advance planning and flexibility, we’ll all get through this.

Chance To Get a Van Expires Oct. 31

2011-10-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

These vans won't turn into pumpkins on Halloween, but the opportunity for Snohomish County nonprofit organizations to get a van at no cost expires that day.

Community Transit's Van GO program awards surplus vans to worthy nonprofits that demonstrate they can use the vehicles to provide needed transportation in their community. Since 2000, Community Transit has awarded 96 surplus vanpool and service vans as well as paratransit minibuses to organizations through an annual competition.

A number of those vehicles awarded over the years are still in service. Community Transit takes good care of its vehicles, so even a van with 120,000 miles on it is likely to provide years of service for a small organization.

The deadline to apply for this year's crop, up to 10 eight-passenger vans, is Monday, Oct. 31. The vehicles are awarded through a competitive process in which community groups demonstrate how they will use the vehicles to provide transportation service. Awardees will get the van at no cost but must show proof of insurance and pay to register the vehicle.

Questions about eligibility should be directed to vango@commtrans.org or (425) 438-6136.

Applications and more details about the Van GO program are available at www.communitytransit.org/vango.

Applications that are mailed must be postmarked by Oct. 31. Electronic or hand-delivered applications must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Electronic applications must be followed by a hard copy containing the appropriate certification signatures.

Riding the Double Talls

2011-10-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Crosscut today ran this great first-person account of riding one of our Double Tall buses for the first time. It made me recall the thrill of that first ride I took on our leased bus back in 2007.

In this article, Mr. Hinshaw discusses the benefits to Community Transit in using double decker buses for commuter service, mainly transporting more people without greater operating costs. Another benefit to the agency is visibility. People in Seattle see the Double Talls and think of Community Transit. Other transit agencies elsewhere in the country call us to ask about our experience with the buses, or if they find out I work here they say, "Oh yeah, you guys have the double deckers."

Hinshaw asks why a U.S. company doesn't get in the double decker market, and that's a legitimate question. But yet another benefit of Community Transit's order for 23 double deckers from U.K.-based Alexander Dennis, Ltd. is that the company set up a plant in California to build our buses. That did employ U.S. workers, and set a precedent for other agencies to purchase such buses with federal "Buy America" money.

The author confesses "a childlike glee" in running upstairs to get a front row seat. What about you? What was your first ride on a Double Tall like? Are you a regular Double Tall commuter? Are you still waiting for that first chance to board a double decker? What's your story?

What Is STEP?

2011-10-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

The School Transit Education Program (STEP) is a free educational experience offered to all public and private schools throughout Snohomish County. Its main objective is to teach students K-12 the benefits of public transportation.

Education Coordinator Steve Peters uses his background in theater to bring a 30-minute classroom presentation to life! Steve uses stories, imitations and funny characters to introduce public transportation to thousands of children each year. Kids learn how to read a route number, bus etiquette, bus safety and much much more!

Once the classroom presentation is complete, all children board a Community Transit bus for a half-hour ride around the community. These buses are driven by some of Community Transit's best drivers! For more information about the program, call (425) 348-7148 or email steve.peters@commtrans.org.

35 Years: A Quiet Celebration

2011-10-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

An anniversary is a celebration. It’s a milestone in life, marking another achievement. Even in tough financial times, we find ways to commemorate those milestones. It may be a husband and wife marking their 10th wedding anniversary with a nice home-cooked dinner because they can’t afford a fancy restaurant. But we do remember.

Today is the 35th anniversary of the start of Community Transit. We’ve done big celebrations in the past. But this year, we are that couple sitting down with candles in our own dining room. We’re marking our anniversary with another day of planning to implement service cuts in February 2012. It’s certainly not what we would choose, but it is what we must do, just like some families across the nation who spend anniversaries just trying to make ends meet. Hopefully those families find at least a few minutes to fondly look back at those quaint early days, and look forward to a brighter future.

On Oct. 4, 1976, Community Transit was the newlywed. Our drivers were dressed in fine new uniforms, but they were driving 15-year-old leased buses. We started small: seven communities, seven routes. We were casual: no bus stops, just wave to the bus somewhere along one of our routes and the driver would stop to pick you up. Ring the bell and we’d stop and let you out at your destination.

As time went on, our family grew. Routes became more formal. Almost every city in Snohomish County joined Community Transit. We added routes and began to run buses more frequently. Ridership climbed as the public embraced us. Our future was bright.

And then a crisis. The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax was eliminated, taking away about 30 percent of our funding. But our friends rallied to support us. The public went to the polls to approve new funding, and Community Transit recovered and thrived. Service that had been slashed was restored, new service was introduced and ridership soared. In the mid-2000s there were four consecutive years of record-breaking ridership, culminating in 11.9 million rides in 2008.

The next year, Swift was born.

Like every other family, Community Transit was hit hard by the Great Recession. Four straight years of record ridership turned to four straight years of budget cuts. The agency borrowed from its reserves, holding off new projects and new purchases to keep service on the road as long as possible. In June 2010, service was cut 15 percent. The economy still did not rebound. In February 2012 there will be another 20 percent service cut.

This time around there is nothing for friends to rally around. Not yet. The agency has put itself in a position to be able to grow again, smarter and with a focus on improving productivity. The February 2012 service change will be a place of stability that will provide a solid base from which future growth can occur.

And we're still optimistic about that brighter future!

Larsen visits Community Transit

2011-09-30T16:09:00.001-07:00

Congressman Rick Larsen stopped by Community Transit's operations base in Everett today to talk to employees about federal transportation funding.

Larsen sits on the House Transportation Committee that oversees the surface transportation authorization bill.

The House is in the midst of a debate over whether to reauthorize spending for two years or the usual six, Larsen said. The House also is debating a possible reduction in federal transportation spending.

After a Q&A with employees, Larsen rode Swift from the Aurora Village Transit Center to his district office at the Snohomish County campus in downtown Everett.

New Tool in Fare Enforcement

2011-09-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, Community Transit drivers started handing out a small business-sized card to riders who fail to pay their full fare. The card informs the rider that fares are mandatory and that s/he is riding at risk of a $124 citation.

For years, there have been complaints that drivers don't do enough to make people pay their fares. In fact, the agency's policy was for drivers to ask for fare once then not argue with a rider. The policy is to ensure the safety of the driver and other riders, and to keep the driver focused on driving the bus.

If you ask some people, they'll say fare evasion on buses is rampant. On some routes, in some areas, with some riders, it is a problem. But we had our drivers and monitors do a survey recently and found that on all Community Transit buses the fare evasion rate (those who underpay or don't pay at all) is about 2 percent. One can say that's a small number, 2 out of 100 people, but with ridership in the millions it adds up.

When we started Swift bus rapid transit, with its off-board fare payment and no fare box, we stepped up the practice of having deputies ride on buses. In the past it was more a symbol of security, but with changes to state law authorizing civil citations for non-fare payment, the deputies had a new job - fare enforcement.

Our drivers started keeping logs of fare evasion, filling out forms to indicate which routes, which locations and which times of day fare evasion was occuring most often. The deputies use this information to decide which buses to ride, in uniform or in plain clothes. A problem arose, however, when deputies encountered a fare evader and their excuse was "Well, the driver let me ride anyway."

By handing the fare evader the new card, the rider is warned and has no excuse. In fact, one supervisor told me last week that a driver handed a card to a gentleman who had underpaid. The guy sat down, read the card then came back to the front and paid the rest of his fare. Good call!

On Swift, the ambassadors are there to check fares and educate riders about how to pay fares on this different type of service. Because it's an honor-payment system, fare evasion is higher than on the rest of the system (up to 6 percent), but there is also a greater risk of getting caught as we have more patrols checking for fare evasion.

Our hope is, with this new reminder, more people will pay their fare without hassle. Drivers can remain focused on the road and deputies can do their job without worrying that a fare evader "has an excuse."

National Recognition for Curb the Congestion

2011-09-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

By Tom Pearce, Public Information Specialist

The Curb the Congestion program has taken thousands of trips off busy streets in Snohomish County. Now it has been recognized with a national award. The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) presented a second-place Marketing and Outreach: Partnership Award to Community Transit and Snohomish County for their innovative and highly successful Curb the Congestion program.

Curb the Congestion is a community-based approach to reducing traffic congestion on three specific corridors in Snohomish County – 164th Street between Lynnwood and Mill Creek, 128th Street between Everett and Mill Creek, and 20th Street SE between Everett and Lake Stevens. Through financial incentives and a lot of legwork, people who live, work and/or travel on those roads every day are making pledges to change their commuting habits.

The national honor recognized the success of the 2010 Curb the Congestion program. Through the end of last year, 361 people were signed up and participating in the program, removing an estimated 18,000 drive-alone car trips from these three crowded corridors. A follow-up survey reported that 90 percent of those who signed up for the initial three-month incentive vowed to continue to use an alternate commute method.

The program’s strategy has evolved in each of its three years. For 2011, Curb the Congestion offers a $50 monthly incentive to help participants pay for alternative transportation for the first three months they get out of their single-occupant vehicles and take the bus, bike, walk, carpool or vanpool instead. After three months, those who stay with the program are eligible to win a $150 monthly random drawing.

The program started when Snohomish County decided it could not afford to build more infrastructure on 164th Street to handle traffic. The county turned to Community Transit for a solution. The county funds the program through development mitigation feeds and federal grants, and Community Transit does the legwork, like holding community fairs, promoting the program to apartment complexes and businesses and administering the program’s incentives. The county’s original goal was to take 100 trips off the road each day.

Transportation Funding Roundtable

2011-09-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

This week I attended a roundtable discussion on state transportation funding at the Machinists Union Hall in Everett, one of many that are being held around the region. There was a small, but good group of participants, including State Reps. Marko Liias and Mike Sells, Snohomish County Council Chair Dave Somers and Edmonds City Council President Strom Peterson.

People were focused on priorities for the 2012 Legislature, which is supposed to take up the issue of state transportation funding, including possible money for transit.

Somers discussed the county’s planning efforts, which include both a six-year transportation plan and a 30-year multimodal plan. He was proud of the fact that county planners worked collaboratively with transit and the various cities in creating their plans. But, purely from a capital perspective, he said there is already a $60 million funding gap for the six-year plan.

Fixing the infrastructure we now have and looking at road projects is a priority for the county heading into the legislative session. Somers, who is a member of the Community Transit Board of Directors, also made his pitch for transit funding.

Liias said that coming out of this Great Recession the impacts to families will be great as people who have lost jobs, and especially those who faced long-term unemployment, will be playing catch-up for the earnings they missed out on. For many of those families, the impacts may mean no money for college or similar life-changing decisions.

He said the number of people with no options has increased, and that will spill over to transportation choices, as fewer people can afford to buy or drive cars and more people turn to transit as their way to get around. The transit cuts we have faced here in Snohomish County have been devastating, and for those who will turn to transit in the future, we want to do our best to have a strong system for them to use.

Liias sponsored the legislation that ultimately resulted in a car tab fees that Metro got to sustain its service the next two years. The bill was originally written to help Community Transit, but by the time the session was done, our agency was dropped.

Which led to one of my points I made to the legislators: even if the Legislature grants local option funding measures for transit agencies to take to voters to raise sales taxes or car tab fees or whatever, Community Transit may well end up with no new money. Voter sentiment is not keen on taxes these days, which is why Metro supporters did whatever they could to avoid going to voters for the car tab fee.

The hope for next year is another steady revenue source for transit. One that is distributed by formula so that agencies get their fair share based on the numbers they serve.

Twelve years ago, Washington state apportioned motor vehicle excise tax revenues to transit agencies based on how many riders we carried. That steady funding source helped offset the volatility of the sales tax, our other main revenue source. After Initiative 695, the Legislature eliminated MVET funding for transit agencies. Community Transit had to cut its service by 27 percent and laid off hundreds of workers. In September 2001, ten years ago, Snohomish County voters approved a sales tax increase that took this agency to the 0.9 percent level we are at today, the maximum under state law.

Of course, when recession hit in late 2007, the volatility of that single revenue source was put on display as we lost 18 percent of our funding that still hasn’t come back. In all, between 2007 and 2013, the funding that was expected from that source that never materialized will total $207 million.

So, we are hopeful for a new state plan for transportation funding, but we must accept the fact that there could be one or several ballot measures to secure transit funding, and it may be mixed with road infrastructure funding as well.

At least two groups are talking about this right now, the Connecting Washington Task Force assembled by Governor Gregoire to put together a plan for transportation funding that will be sent to the Legislature, and Transportation for Washington, an advocacy coalition that seeks to promote new transportation funding.

Community Transit and our riders have a great deal at stake in next year’s legislative session. We will keep you updated on news as it develops. As a public agency, we cannot organize a constituency or endorse a ballot measure, but we can answer questions on how various proposals might impact this agency.

What are your thoughts?

Van GO: Spreading the wealth

2011-09-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Community Transit just launched its latest round of the Van GO van grant program. This year, up to 10 eight-passenger Chevy Astro vans that are being surplussed from the agency's vanpool fleet will be awarded to nonprofit agencies in Snohomish County.

The Van GO program started in 2000 after passage of Initiative 695 led to the State Legislature eliminating motor vehicle excise tax (car tab) funding for transit. Community Transit lost a third of its funding and had to cut service and lay off hundreds of employees.

The notion of Van GO was to grant surplus vehicles to groups that could use them to help offset the transportation trips in the community that had been lost by the service cuts. Since then, 96 vehicles have been granted under this program. Sometimes there are surplus mini-buses awarded (former DART vehicles like the one pictured), but not this year.

If you wonder why I keep using the term "granted" it's because a public agency cannot simply give away equipment. These surplus vehicles are awarded through a competitive process and the winners must in turn use them to provide a specified number of trips the following year. When these surplus vans go to auction, as is the standard practice for surplus items, they net about $1,500-2,500. Not all surplus vehicles go to Van GO; most Community Transit vehicles are put up for auction to help recover our public investment, per state law.

From now through Oct. 31, nonprofits in Snohomish County can apply for one of these vans. Eligibility requirements and the application are available online. One thing that has worked well in recent years for applicants is partnering with another agency. For instance, some social service agencies have partnered with churches to ensure the van is used seven days a week. The number of trips an applicant says they will provide counts for 20 percent of the grant request.

If you know someone at an agency that can use these vans, or you can think of a good use at an organization you belong to, check it out. A pre-application workshop for interested groups will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 29 at Community Transit. Send a note to vango @ commtrans.org for more information.

Board Adopts Hybrid Alternative for 2012

2011-09-01T17:02:00.001-07:00

The Community Transit Board of Directors this afternoon selected the so-called "Hybrid Alternative" as the service plan for the agency's 2012 System Change.

The Hybrid Alternative combines the commuter route network proposed in Alternative I with the local route network proposed in Alternative III, with some modifications to each. The Hybrid Alternative does not include Sunday service.

Community Transit will reduce bus service by 20 percent in February 2012 due to low sales tax revenue as a result of the recession. A public outreach period this summer generated more than 2,000 public comments about the original three alternatives for service reductions, plus the hybrid alternative that was added in early August.

Board members were divided over the service plan, with Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Gossett, Lynnwood Councilmember Ted Hikel, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith, Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Somers, Mill Creek Mayor Mike Todd and Stanwood Mayor Dianne White voting for the hybrid alternative, and Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring and Gold Bar City Councilmember Steve Slawson voting against the hybrid alternative.

Although several board members said their first choice was another of the alternatives, no motion was made for a vote on any but the hybrid alternative.

In coming months, schedules and maps for the new service plan will be created. An extensive public outreach effort will take place early in 2012 to help riders get familiar with the new routing and schedules. The new service plan will take effect on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012.

Graffiti Gets Expensive

2011-08-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Graffiti at our bus shelters is a big problem. It’s unsightly, creates an unsafe feeling for passengers and at a time when every penny counts, it costs money to repair. In 2007 and 2008, Community Transit’s Shelter Maintenance program fully refurbished about 70 shelters a year at a cost of $1,200 to $1,500 per shelter. That added up to $90,000 to $100,000 each year.

Major shelter refurbishing work has been discontinued during the recession, but the graffiti hasn’t stopped. To figure out how to efficiently deal with the issue, Community Transit established a multi-departmental Anti-Graffiti Project team.

The key question the team discussed is, “What is the tolerable maintenance, condition and appearance Community Transit will accept for our bus shelters, and at what cost?” The team also looked at issues such as why some stops are consistently vandalized while others are not, as well as various solutions to make shelters less attractive to vandals.

Swift stations were designed to be vandal-resistant, and already have an established standard to clean up graffiti within 24 hours. The quick response has effectively discouraged vandalism at Swift stations, but other bus shelters in the busy Highway 99 corridor have been targeted instead.

One of the major problems is that vandals scratch or etch the plexiglass panels of the shelters. When the plexiglass get badly damaged, it costs our agency about $850 just to replace the panel. Community Transit has been identifying and replacing shelters at high risk for vandalism and replacing their expensive plexiglass panels with metal screens. The screens aren’t as weather-resistant or attractive, so we continue to use plexiglass panels in low-risk shelters. We’ll be installing some redesigned shelters to test a new glass pattern that may withstand damage better than current designs.

Please report any graffiti you see at Community Transit facilities to our Customer Information staff by noting the stop identification number (on the bus stop post) or location. If you see a vandal in action, please call 911.

Sales Tax Revenues Not Recovering

2011-08-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, the economy of Snohomish County was growing along with our population and employment. Sales tax looked like a stable and growing source of revenue. That was a good thing for Community Transit, since sales tax has historically made up 60-70 percent of our budget.

In 2006 we began working on our six-year Transit Development Plan for 2008-2013, and we had all sorts of hopes for the future of public transportation in Snohomish County. Our financial forecasts anticipated a slight slow-down in sales tax growth by the end of the plan, but an average growth of 6.9 percent a year seemed reasonable in Washington’s economy at the time.

Then, along came the Great Recession. Our Transit Development Plan had estimated sales tax collections of $103 million in 2011. We’re now hoping for $62.7 million in sales tax revenue this year, 18 percent less than we collected in 2007 and 40 percent less than we expected to collect before the recession hit.

The recession is supposed to be over now, and revenues are up 2 percent compared to 2010. However, about 2/3 of the increased sales tax is the result of a tax amnesty program by the state Department of Revenue. Adjusting for one-time effects, sales tax revenue is less than 1 percent higher than in 2010.

A report from the Department of Revenue last month indicated taxable retail sales overall in Snohomish County were down by 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011 – worst in the state.

While it looks like sales tax collections will be sufficient to balance our budget this year, our future is still uncertain. Major service cuts in 2012 are part of our long term sustainability plan. Earlier this year we had assumed a more favorable economic recovery and projected an average sales tax growth of 4 percent for the next 6 years. The fact that the economy is recovering so slowly could mean the need for more cost cutting in 2012, including the possibility of additional service cuts in the future.

King County Metro Gets Car Tab Revenue. Why Not Us?

2011-08-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

On Monday, the King County Council approved a two-year, $20 fee on car tabs that will help fill King County Metro’s $60 million budget shortfall and stave off a 17 percent cut in service.

Why doesn’t Community Transit seek a car tab fee?

Short answer: We can’t.
Longer answer: We tried. The original bill to give transit agencies the authority to temporarily raise revenues with a “congestion relief” or car tab fee was written with Community Transit in mind by state Rep. Marko Liias. Ironically, Community Transit and Pierce Transit were excluded from the bill when it finally passed out of the state Senate Transportation Committee.

Why don’t we raise money some other way?

Short answer: We have done what we can.
Longer answer: We have raised bus fares twice in the past three years: local and paratransit fares in 2010, and local, commuter and paratransit fares in 2008. But the public service that is transit cannot be funded by fares alone.

Snohomish County voters approved a 3/10 of 1 percent increase in the sales tax in 2001 after the state took away a third of our funding that came from the motor vehicle excise tax. That vote put us at the state maximum 9/10 of 1 percent sales tax. As it happens, the only other agency in the state that has topped-out its sales tax authority is King County Metro.

As a result of the recession, agencies that have sales tax authority remaining have been asking voters to increase support for transit for the past two years; some have succeeded, some haven’t.

Bottom line for Community Transit: We need state support – in terms of direct revenue or new taxing authority – to help fund our service. Until that happens, the Community Transit Board must make difficult decisions to balance our budget, and Snohomish County residents face more painful cuts to public transportation.

Same Alternatives, New Mix for 2012 Changes

2011-08-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Just as the Hybrid Alternative (see previous post) is a mixture of existing proposals to reduce service, our revised "2012 System Changes" web page provides new ways to view existing information. Both the Hybrid and the web page have some differences compared to the originals which we hope are improvements.

New information now posted on the system change pages includes:

Route-by-route charts for local and commuter changes updated to include all three original alternatives plus the Hybrid Alternative
A new “Transit Service” chart compares how each alternative affects routes to major transit hubs and destinations
More standard (and hopefully simplified) navigation
New maps to illustrate the Hybrid Alternative routing changes

We previously updated the “Public Comments Summary” page to provide an overview of input so far.

We also have an “FAQs” page – let us know if you have more questions for which you’d like answers.

Finally, for a timeline of where we’ve been and where we’re going in this complex and difficult process, see our “Process” page.

A decision on the final February 2012 service plan is expected at the Sept. 1 Community Transit Board of Directors meeting.

Board Asks for Comment Before Sept. 1 Vote

2011-08-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Community Transit Board of Directors did not take a vote on a 2012 System Change alternative yesterday, but asked for more time for public review and comment on the hybrid alternative that has recently emerged.

Yesterday's pass sets up a likely vote on Sept. 1 as a decision is needed on a final service plan for staff to do all the work needed to implement the changes in February 2012.

The hybrid alternative came out of board discussions based on the public input about the original three service alternatives.
The hybrid incorporates the commuter service network described in Alternative I and the local service network described in Alternative III, with a few changes.

The board reviewed the hybrid alternative yesterday and added a couple of changes to Route 222 that serves the Tulalip Reservation to address concerns that had been raised by the Tribe. The costs of retaining a bus stop near Quil Ceda Creek Casino and service to a loop at Silver Village are offset by operational efficiencies that would be instituted along that route.

While board members were reluctant to call the hybrid a "preferred" alternative, it does reflect an evolution of thinking about the original proposals. Board members said they specifically want to hear from riders what they think about this hybrid alternative before they are set to vote in September. Riders can send their comments by Aug. 26 to 2012changes@commtrans.org.

New maps are being created to illustrate the changes unique to the hybrid alternative and will be posted on the website early next week. Also, a separate page describing all the features of the hybrid alternative is being created.

Meanwhile, web visitors can use the existing route-by-route chart to learn how their service could be impacted under the hybrid by reviewing Alternative III for local routes (100s and 200s) and Alternative I for commuter routes (400s and 800s).

Although the idea of adding minimal Sunday service to the hybrid alternative was discussed at the meeting, there was no direction given.

Potential Board Action on 2012 System Change

2011-08-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

One of the action items on the Aug. 4 Community Transit Board of Directors meeting agenda is the February 2012 System Change - the proposed service cuts for next year.

Although this is a scheduled action item, depending on the board discussion there may or may not be a vote.

Over the past two weeks, since a July 21 board workshop on the service alternatives and public comment, a new hybrid alternative has emerged. Details are available on the website, but in a nutshell the hybrid alternative combines the commuter network of Alternative I with the local route network of Alternative III, with some modifications.

The goal of all the service alternatives is to meet a reduction of 80,000 service hours, which is a 20 percent cut in service. The original three alternatives were put out for public comment in June and more than 1,800 comments were received through mid-July.

Once a board decision is reached, that will set into motion a cavalcade of work to implement the service cuts in February 2012. Bus stops and/or signage may need to be changed, maps and schedules need to be created and printed, run cuts will be done to determine which drivers will drive which routes and that will dictate the actual number of drivers needed to operate the service.

But first, the board must decide, possibly on Aug. 4. Stay tuned.

Take Transit to Summer Events

2011-07-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you’ve heard of our “buy local for transit” campaign? Or of the “stay-cation” concept that makes sticking close to home sound fun?

It just doesn’t get any more local or festive than the community events hosted each summer around Snohomish County.

Since Community Transit strives to live up to our name, we participate in events when we can. Next week’s “National Night Out Against Crime” activities will bring Oxy Gene and Community Transit staff out to some neighborhoods in support of safety.

Our primary involvement is as a transportation provider.
This weekend starts with the “Tour de Terrace” parade in Mountlake Terrace on Friday night. We jokingly call it the “Detour de Terrace” since our service gets bumped off 56th Avenue, but it’s a great night out.

In many cases, transit is the best to get to an event where parking is limited and traffic is hectic.

Upcoming examples of good events to get to via public transportation are:

Lake Stevens Aquafest, July 29-31: Like many festivals, this event occupies downtown, meaning our buses are rerouted. But they can still get you close to the action, as will a free event shuttle from Lake Stevens High School.

Taste of Edmonds, Aug. 12-14: This very popular event has lots of transit service nearby, as well as its own event shuttle from Edmonds-Woodway High School.

Evergreen State Fair, Aug. 25-Sept. 5: Regular Community Transit buses serve a special stop near the fairgrounds entrance, with free parking at Everett Station.

Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, Sept. 9-11: This event fills up Lighthouse Park, meaning no waterfront parking for the weekend. Instead, event organizers (including Providence Harbour Pointe Clinic) have made a conscious effort to partner with Community Transit. Buses serve the festival and also connect with event shuttles at Kamiak High School and Olympic View Middle School.

Bear in mind that Community Transit does not operate on Sundays or holidays. The same financial limitations that caused us to cut service also mean we no longer have the resources to be at major events such as Evergreen State Fair. We used to talk with thousands of people each summer about how buses, vanpools and other transportation options could transform their commutes.

This summer, I encourage you to try a new travel option out for yourself by taking the bus to your community’s hometown festival.

Board Continues Consideration of Service Cut Alternatives

2011-07-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Community Transit Board of Directors met July 21 to discuss the 2012 system change alternatives and go over public comment that was received since June 3.

The board is expected to make a decision on a final plan no later than September 1. Once a decision is made there will be a great deal of work required to implement the changes. New maps and schedules will need to be developed, necessary staffing levels must be determined and a major public education effort will take place before the service change occurs in February 2012.

The July 21 workshop featured several presentations and a lively discussion that did not arrive at any consensus as to what the final service plan will be.
Board members asked questions and raised concerns brought up by various riders under each of the alternatives, most notably Alternative III which revises the route network for local and commuter riders.

Public comment

More than 1,800 comments were received since the alternatives went public on June 3. A majority of those comments came through the online form that asked eight questions and included an opportunity for open-ended comments.

A couple of key highlights were that 57 percent of respondents said they did not want minimal Sunday service at the expense of deeper cuts the rest of the week, while 26 percent said they wanted the Sunday service. Given that more commuters filled out the comment form than local riders, it is not surprising that Sunday service did not get more support. Many commuters do not ride the bus on weekends and indicated they did not favor further cuts to support minimal Sunday service.

Among local riders who filled out the form, 54 percent answered yes, that they want minimal Sunday service. Thirty-four percent said no, while 8 percent indicated no opinion.

Of the three alternatives, I and II keep the current route network with reduced trips. The difference between those options is that Alternative II includes minimal Sunday service with greater trip reductions weekdays and especially on Saturdays. Alternative III reworks the route network, preserving more trips but causing different travel patterns and, in some cases, more transfers and longer trips.

Asked to rank the alternatives, 45 percent of all respondents chose I as their first choice, 33 percent chose II as their first choice and 28 percent chose III as their first choice. Among local riders, the alternatives ranked II, I, III, while among commuter riders the alternatives ranked I, III, II.

Further summary of the public comments is posted on the 2012 System Change page.
Next steps

While the board did not direct staff toward any particular alternative, board members asked many questions of staff and debated amongst themselves over the principle options of minimal Sunday service or not, and reworking either the local or commuter network as proposed in Alternative III. Several board member questions asked whether there could be a hybridization of alternatives, to which staff answered yes, to some degree.

The board members are continuing their personal consideration of alternatives and review of the comments and will be passing their thoughts along to staff.

Discussion is likely to continue at the regular monthly board meeting on Aug. 4. As always, public comment is taken at the beginning of each board meeting.

Again, once a decision is made none of the changes will be effective until February 2012. Before that time, details of the final service plan will be available on the website and there will be lots of outreach to inform customers of the changes ahead of time.

Fare-Well to a Swift Original

2011-07-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

More than 1 million people have boarded Swift since the service started in November 2009. Joyce Dews has talked to thousands of them as one of three people filling the job of Swift Ambassador.

Swift riders may not know her name, but they do know her trademark red hair. Even when she goes to the grocery store or visits a car dealership, people recognize her as “the bus lady.”

When she boards a Swift bus, some people – those who failed to pay their fare – jump off. “They all act like they’ve got somewhere important to go,” she explains. Ambassadors and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies have worked together to issue hundreds of $124 tickets to non-paying riders so far this year.

A 60-something grandmother in real-life, Joyce is also the “mom” of Swift, the one who tells people not to eat on board, not to cuss, and to clean up after themselves.

The Ambassadors always start with a friendly, educational approach to customers. They’re happy to answer questions, and willing to help people who didn’t know about paying in advance buy a bus ticket at the next station.

“You have to decide what kind of man you want to be,” she told one young fare-evader. “One with integrity, or one who doesn’t pay their fair share to keep the buses on the road.” Now, whenever he sees her, he promptly displays his ticket.

At first, Joyce expected that some of the people who board Swift without paying must do so because they can’t afford the bus fare. She has found that is rarely the case. When she de-boards with a non-paying customer to help them pay their fare, they often pull out pocketful of cash. One man had an ORCA card with $122 loaded on it – which he’d never, ever tapped.

Most Swift riders appreciate the fare enforcement. With the clean and modern Swift stations, roomy buses and high expectations for passenger conduct, “We’re changing people’s perception of public transportation,” Joyce says.

Joyce’s perceptions have changed as well. She didn’t realize walking and standing on a moving bus all day would be such a physical job. She’s never worked at a company where her fellow employees and managers were so universally nice. And she’s realized that even though she may appear tough on the outside, sometimes people’s hard-luck stories do get to her.

As for the misperception that Swift buses drive around empty, Joyce shares these statistics. At first, she checked 80 people a day to confirm fare payment. By the first anniversary, it was 200 people. In recent weeks, she had several days with more than 300 people checked in a 7-hour shift (that’s 42 people an hour on one bus).

Joyce retires this month to become a stay-at-home grandma for her daughter’s two young children. But since she lives in Lynnwood, you still might see her on Swift.

“I might come out on my own time and see if people jump off,” she laughs.

Good Financial Reporting Keeps Transit Accountable

2011-07-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone wanting to know how Community Transit really spends the taxpayer’s money can view the “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” (CAFR) on the budget page of our website. We just posted the 2010 version last week after the completion of our six-week annual audit by the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

Community Transit received a letter of congratulations for 16 straight years of clean audits from State Auditor Brian Sonntag.
“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of the Board and the staff to strong oversight of operations, good internal controls, and accurate financial reporting.” Additionally, Community Transit has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for 22 consecutive years.

The CAFR presents more than accounting data. It includes agency history and recent projects, key performance indicators like ridership, cost per mile and farebox recovery (how much of the actual cost of service is covered by passenger fares). At the back are a set of tables that take a 10-year view of trends in revenue, expenses, population, employment, fares and ridership (on our buses, vanpool and DART paratransit).

A summary of the adopted 2011 Community Transit budget is also posted on our website. The proposed 2012 budget will be posted in the fall, available for public review before it is adopted by the board. The budget documents are organized differently but have some of the same information as the CAFR.

All are pretty heavy reading (and a little depressing these days). But we want them to be easily available to the public and our public-sector colleagues. Indeed, having the CAFR and budget available on our website saves us money and time, since we used to have to print and mail many more copies of the documents.

Public Hearing Summary from July 7

2011-07-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

About 70 people turned out for the Community Transit Board of Directors public hearing last night on proposed service cuts to take effect in February 2012. A total of 31 people testified.

Seven people testified in favor of bringing back Sunday bus service. They ranged from a single mom who says it’s hard for her to keep or get a job with no reliable transportation on Sundays to DART paratransit customers who have no way to get around those days.

There were five riders commenting on Route 422, which serves Stanwood-Seattle. Each of the five riders testified against Alternative III, which would increase the number of Route 422 trips from three to four but would have the route run only to the Lynnwood Transit Center. From there, riders would transfer to buses running to and from Seattle.

The most common complaint about Alt. III among these Route 422 riders was that they might miss that last bus to Stanwood in the evening and be stuck in Lynnwood. Given the delays that often occur traveling back from Seattle in the evening, they said there could be a very real chance they would miss the ride back to Stanwood. Several riders mentioned that they lived on Camano Island so getting to Stanwood isn’t even the end of their journey; they still need to connect to Island Transit to get home.

Five riders from Gold Bar, Monroe and Snohomish spoke to board members about service along Highway 2. Two of them want to retain the early morning Route 277 trip from Gold Bar. They say ridership along the Gold Bar-Monroe stretch of the route is higher than the agency contends and both may have trouble making it to Monroe to catch the bus due to medical issues. Another rider said Route 424 is already very long and proposed changes in Alternative III would make that trip even longer. “Commuter routes lose less money and keep people working,” he said. A local bus rider was upset that Alternative III would eliminate the 179^th-Fryelands loop of Route 270 in Monroe.

Several riders asked why a fare increase was not a part of this package as that may have offset some of the service cuts. This and several other questions are answered in a new FAQ on the Community Transit website.

Two people spoke against the proposal in Alternative III to eliminate Route 412, which winds through Silver Firs on its way to and from Seattle. They felt this was a well used route and the notion of commuter buses now originating at park & rides rather than picking people up in neighborhoods was an erosion to the community quality of life.

Two transit advocates spoke about the poor financial health of all transit agencies in the state and said that more options should be given to transit agencies to raise revenue.

A representative from the Snohomish County Young Democrats said what was most important was to maintain service to the most riders while looking out for the most vulnerable. After reviewing the three alternatives, he said his group felt the best option would be Alternative III with Sunday service.

One gentleman who works at Edmonds Community College spoke against the proposal in all three alternatives to eliminate Route 190 from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal to EdCC. Although other serve a portion of that same routing, he said there are homes that house EdCC international students that would be left without service and that could jeopardize that program.

One woman said the board members would need superpowers to make the right decision, while yet another woman had a bad experience getting to the hearing via bus and told the board: "All of you should surrender your keys and rely on transit for a week and you'll find that neither Alternatives I, II or III work." Board member Steve Slawson held up his ORCA card and said he does rely on transit.

All testimony was concluded by 6:20 p.m. and the board was set to adjourn its meeting when the issue was raised that one brochure announced the hearing would run from 5-8:30 p.m. CEO Joyce Eleanor told board members and audience that rider alerts were posted on all buses to say that testimony would continue until the last person present had a chance to speak. Although all those present had their opportunity to speak, several board members agreed to stay until 8:30 p.m. in case others showed up later. In fact, three people came between 6:30-7:30 p.m. and each was given a chance to testify.

The formal public comment period runs through July 11. As of this morning, 1,688 online comments have been received.

Public Hearing Starts at 5 p.m.

2011-07-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

The public hearing before Community Transit's Board of Directors on the three service alternatives for the 2012 system change takes place tomorrow, Thursday July 7 at 5 p.m. The meeting will continue until the last person present has had the opportunity to comment.

That last little phrase has been promoted heavily the past couple weeks on our website and through rider alerts because the 2012 System Change Alternatives brochure that outlined the service options originally said the hearing would run from 5-8:30 p.m. That was the time the room at Mukilteo's Rosehill Community Center was booked, but it has always been the intention of the board to allow everyone present a chance to comment, whether that meant ending earlier or later than 8:30 p.m.

The reason the board meeting is taking place at Rosehill is that last year there were about 100 people who showed up for the hearing on the June 2010 service cuts. Community Transit's board room, where such meetings usually take place, only seats around 40 people. Last year the hearing was held at Boeing's Future of Flight Museum, a location that wasn't easily accessible by bus and was still a little cramped.

Rosehill is just off several bus routes (Routes 113, 190, 417 and 880 as well as Everett Transit Route 18) and is even larger. There is no way of predicting how many people will show up to testify, but this year we have received more than 1,560 online comments compared to the 600 or so total comments received last year.

At the hearing, each person signed up to comment will get three minutes to do so. Board Chair Dave Gossett will run the meeting and will call people by number. Everyone who signs up to comment will get a number and is expected to line up just prior to their turn to speak. There should be three people lined up at the microphone at all times. A roving mic will be available for those who cannot get in line.

Since the board members will focus on hearing the comments, staff will be available outside the hearing room to answer questions, as they did at the five open houses held in June. Even if you have not had a chance to form your opinion about the service alternatives, you can show up, learn all about them, ask some questions then testify before the board.

The formal public comment period runs through Monday, July 11.

UW Husky Cards Get Smart

2011-06-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

The region hit another ORCA milestone this week – converting University of Washington U-PASS users to ORCA. Actually, we’re starting small by first enabling ORCA for the staff and faculty U-PASS this summer.

Both students and staff have received new Husky Cards with smart card technology inside and an ORCA logo outside. But we’re not loading the cards with passes all at once.

There are about 60,000 potential U-PASS users on campus each day (staff, faculty and students), the single biggest ORCA account in the region. Last quarter, 64 percent of UW Seattle students purchased a U-PASS. Community Transit has a number of bus routes dedicated to serving campus, for good reason. Last month we had 60,000 boardings on our University routes.

Edmonds Community College began offering an ORCA-powered EdPass this spring. We don't have complete data since the quarter just ended, but it appears the simple, new way of purchasing and using a bus pass has been a success. More than 2,500 students purchased their first ORCA-powered EdPass this spring - and will save $10 if they load it with a bus pass again next quarter. The new EdPass bumped Community Transit’s percentage of boardings using ORCA cards to almost 65 percent last month, well above the first quarter regional average of 51 percent ORCA boardings.

A final bit of good news for ORCA aficionados – in case you hadn’t noticed, the ORCA website got some significant usability improvements earlier this month. Upgrades will continue to be made quarterly. And, of course, there are now many more places to reload your ORCA card throughout the region.

Reaching Out Where Riders Are

2011-06-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

Throughout June, Community Transit salaried staff (they don’t get paid for extra time) have been out talking to riders about the three service alternatives for the 2012 system change.

We’ve blogged about the five open house meetings (which attracted 166 people) and the online comment form (more than 1,400 and counting), but the numbers of riders we’ve reached through our rider forums far exceeds those totals.

The point of a rider forum is to go where the bus riders are: park & rides, transit centers and on board buses. People at these locations are most interested in getting to where they need to go, so the length and quality of conversation is not always great, but you reach a lot of people.

In the 16 rider forums we’ve held so far (last one is tomorrow at McCollum Park), we’ve talked with more than 3,400 bus riders. “Talked with” can range from a quick jump on a bus to announce that “Community Transit is planning to cut service by 20 percent in 2012 and we’re taking public comment this month. The brochure is here on the bus, you can go to our website for full details and we’re holding open house meetings so you can learn more,” all the way to a 20-minute conversation with a rider who arrived early for her bus.

In all, staff spent about 55 hours at these forums (again, no overtime). We handed out the 2012 System Change Alternatives brochure, Important News (our onboard newsletter) and hard copy comment cards. We also carried a printout of the route-by-route matrix that tells how each route is impacted under each of the three alternatives so we could have some good back-and-forth when time permitted.

Our goal this month was to raise awareness of the pending service cuts and encourage people to participate in the public comment process. That process runs through July 11, with a public hearing before the Board of Directors at 5 p.m. July 7 at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. While our brochure says the hearing will run from 5 – 8:30 p.m., board members will remain until each person present has had a chance to comment.

We’ll have more on the hearing next week.

Don't Expect Others to Comment for You

2011-06-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

More than 1,250 people have completed our Online Comment Form to provide input on our three system change alternatives and almost 100 people have attended a 2012 System Change Open House. This high level of participation shows that riders have been engaged during this process.

But even with that much engagement, we have not inspired everyone to comment.

Of course, if you used to be a Sunday bus rider or the existing public transportation system doesn’t work for you, you might not be aware of this process. That is why we've worked with the media to get the word out (there has been coverage on TV and in local newspapers).

We held five community open house meetings for those who might not have easy Internet access and might not have been able to review the alternatives online.

Some people might still be unaware or might think it’s just not worth it.

But we want to hear from everyone, from people who have a car but choose to ride the bus to those who don’t have a car or can’t drive. We want to hear from local bus riders and commuter bus riders, because everyone will be impacted by these changes and nobody else is going to speak for you.

One rumor we have heard is that because we're considering some Sunday service, we are definitely going to bring it back.

That is not true. While we have said we would restore Sunday service as soon as new funding became available, there is no new funding. In fact, there is less funding. So, Sunday service is not a given, just an option. If Sunday service matters to you, you need to tell us that.

There are are also many impacts to local routes, from reduced bus frequencies to routing changes to complete elimination of some routes.

And commuter service to Seattle will see some big changes in either frequency reductions or a restructure of how that service is provided.

There’s still time to read up on the alternatives, remind people on your bus to comment and tell a friend or neighbor who uses transit occasionally to pay attention. Our final open house is tonight in Arlington, but the comment period continues through July 11. The public hearing before the board of directors is 5 p.m. July 7 at Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. That hearing will run until the last person present has had the chance to speak.

Don't wait, comment now!

Double Tall Ads Debut

2011-06-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

The first Double Tall bus with advertising made its debut in service this week. AAA of Washington bought the ad that occupies the upper half of the double decker bus.

Community Transit made a decision last year to allow advertising on its Double Tall and Swift buses in an effort to raise more revenue. Transit advertising, like other advertising, has taken a nosedive during the recession. Fewer companies are advertising and they are advertising less than before, causing prices to fall for available advertising space.

Titan, our transit advertising vendor, was eager to make available advertising space on our Swift and Double Tall buses.

Swift buses have a unique look and paint scheme that draws attention to those buses, plus they travel frequently up and down the dense Highway 99 corridor for 20 hours a day. That’s a lot of moving billboard time to a high residential, business and auto-driven population.

The Double Talls are another bus type that draw attention because of their look and size. The ad placement on the upper half of the bus is visible above traffic, a desirable commodity. Plus these buses run through downtown Seattle as well as up and down I-5 during morning and evening rush hours, catching the eyes of stuck motorists.

Some of these same factors help Community Transit. People see these buses and want to ride them because they look different, and the characteristics of their service are different. To help keep brand integrity, Community Transit is not allowing advertising on all its Swift or Double Tall buses. At least not yet. We allow advertising on 10 of our 15 Swift buses and 18 of our 23 Double Tall buses.

So far, there have been five ads sold for the Double Talls. You will see the other ad-equipped buses coming out soon. As part of the Buy Local for Transit promotion, Titan is offering a buy one, get one deal on Community Transit bus ad space. Just in case you’re considering…

By the way, speaking of Double Talls, the heating/air conditioning problem we were experiencing on these buses has been fixed. Because the separate HVAC systems on each floor of the buses were not working together, customers were complaining about it being either too hot or too cold on the buses, depending on where they were sitting. We stopped putting new buses on the road until the problem was fixed. The fix came last weekend and this week another three Double Talls have been put into service, bringing to total 18 on the road. The last five of these replacement buses should be out soon.

Route 424 Dilemma: Fewer Trips or Longer Ride?

2011-06-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, June 15, Community Transit will host its next Community Open House meeting in Monroe, at the High School Performing Arts Center from 6-8 p.m.

Some of the people likely to attend are those bus riders who take Route 424, a commuter route from east Snohomish County to downtown Seattle. Already, this is a long trip, as the bus begins picking up passengers in Snohomish then travels east to Monroe, south to SR522 and I405 then across the always-congested SR520 bridge.

Last week at the Monroe Park & Ride I spoke with a number of Route 424 riders about the alternatives looming for 2012. They pose quite a dilemma. Under Alternatives I and II, the number of trips for that route gets cut from three trips each direction to two trips. As riders pointed out, the buses are already full, especially in the afternoon as people tend to pack into one or two of the three trips home.

Under Alternative III, the number of trips is increased to four in each direction. But the nature of the route is changed to a commuter feeder route. Rather than traveling directly to Seattle, this route would veer from SR522 onto northbound I405, stop at Canyon Park and continue on to the Lynnwood Transit Center. There, riders can transfer to any of a number of buses that go to downtown Seattle. A longer trip, and a transfer.

As I kept repeating last week, and all our staff will continue to tell each rider who is not happy with the choices in the alternatives, we have to cut 20 percent of our costs. There is no way to make people happy with that level of cuts.

The savings in Alts. I and II are obvious; one fewer trip each direction that won't run. The savings in Alt. III come from not having those four buses travel all the way back from Seattle to Snohomish empty.

Essentially, the choices for commuters are between the familiar (Alts. I and II) with the downside being fewer trips. Because the times for those trips have not been figured out yet (that will happen when we're down to one scenario), riders should state their preferred time when giving their input.

The other choice is flexibility (Alt. III) with an upside being more options. In the case of Route 424, there would be more options to catch the bus each way, and more options for connections to and from Seattle. The downside is, of course, more time spent traveling.

Given that there have to be cuts, what are your thoughts about the choices before you for your ride?

Public Comments Keep Coming In!

2011-06-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some attention from local media, as well as our own outreach efforts, riders are giving their input about the three service alternatives for 2012.

So far, 481 comments have been received through our online form and 25 hard copy comment cards have come in. The public comment period runs through July 11.

This week about 70 people attended the two Community Open House meetings in MountlakeTerrace and at Edmonds Community College. We also spoke with hundreds more riders at park & rides.

I was out at the Monroe Park & Ride at O-dark-thirty Wednesday morning and spoke with about 200 riders who came through the facility. I was surprised that a clear majority knew about the planned cuts for 2012, though most had not checked out the details yet. For those who were unaware, we handed out brochures and encouraged them to go to our website or attend an open house meeting to learn more.

Next week we have another open house at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, and we'll be out at park & rides in Lynnwood, Marysville, Stanwood and at Everett Station.

Hope to see some of you there!

Open Houses Begin Tonight

2011-06-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

The first of the community open house meetings to discuss the 2012 System Change alternatives begins tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mountlake Terrace Library.

Riders and members of the public are invited to stop in at any time to talk to staff about the three proposals for a 20 percent service cut. If you haven't already checked out the 2010 system change page on our website, please do so you can come equipped with your questions.

CEO Joyce Eleanor had a column in Sunday's Herald talking about the necessity for these cuts and how the agency must prepare to transform for the future, given the new economic reality. If the agency is left to rely on sales taxes and fares for its revenue it could be a long time before any growth occurs. The agency continues to work with state legislators and federal officials to find new streams of funding for Community Transit and transit in general.

Following tonight's meeting there will be a daytime open house at Edmonds Community College from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.

We hope to see many of you there.

Study the Alternatives, Provide Public Input

2011-06-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

For the past six months, Community Transit service planners have had the unenviable job of coming up with three alternatives that each achieve three seemingly conflicting goals:

Cut service by 20 percent
Maintain geographic coverage throughout Snohomish County
Preserve ridership

They’ve worked hard and put a lot of careful consideration into the plans we put before the public this week. Now we need the public to do the same.

The alternatives have both subtle and significant differences between them. We need people to provide comments on the big picture - “Give me Sunday service” or “Use the hours on weekdays” – as well as the details – “I like the idea of a new route on 196th Street in Lynnwood, but if it could only ….”

A brochure briefly describing the alternatives is on all Community Transit buses, but to really understand the proposals, you need to dig into the details. Those are presented on our "2012 Changes" web page.

The “Overview” section includes tabs on each alternative with a high-level map and description below. This is a good place to start for the big picture.

The “Local Service” and “Commuter Service” tabs compare the alternatives and allow you to look up the changes by route. If you ride Community Transit regularly, we need you to review this information carefully and provide detailed input.

The “Maps” tab is most important for viewing the major system and routing changes involved in Alternative III. Maps are also linked from Alternative III in the route-by-route charts. Maps are also useful in understanding the limits of the Sunday service proposed in Alternative II.

A key part of the “Process” tab is our “Online Comment Form” as well as a list of public meetings and events.
We want to help you understand these alternatives, and we want your feedback.

To make it most valuable, try something like:

This: “I prefer Alternative II, but I live in Gold Bar and need to get to work in Everett on Saturdays by 9 a.m.”
Not this: “Don’t cut my bus route!”

All formal public comments will be shared with our Board of Directors, who will make the final decision.

Due to lack of funding, we have to reduce service significantly. The question is, how can we make the best of a bad situation?

Your thoughtful comments can help us find the answer.

We encourage discussion about the 2012 System Change alternatives on this blog. However, to have your views considered by the board, please submit formal comments through our online comment form accessed via the web page: http://www.communitytransit.org/2012changes

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

2011-05-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

By Mark Melnyk, Community Transit Transportation Demand Management Specialist

Since the point of working is to make money rather than spend money, I look for the most economical choices out there for my 20-mile commute. Well the usual suspects are taking the bus, joining a carpool or vanpool.

However, I don’t want to have to depend on other people to get from one place to another. This wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have an unusual schedule that makes it difficult for me to commit to a consistent schedule.
To be able to take one bus from where I live to where I work would be fantastic. Unfortunately, I’m left with a bus ride that leaves me short of my final destination. It seems that the only viable option I have is driving myself to work. But like I said, the point of my commute is to take me to a job to make money, not spend money on things like gas getting to work.

So what can I do to have the same freedom that comes with driving my car, and the cost savings that come with riding the bus?

The answer I found is riding my bike. Not the full 20 plus miles.
That is more of an effort than I want to make. But an effort I am comfortable making is taking a bus to a stop near my work and then biking the remaining mile or two to my destination, especially if the weather is nice.

Up until three weeks ago I always came up with “good reasons” to not bike to work. Then it happened. I became too tired of all the excuses and decided to focus on possible solutions. I went and had my bike checked out at Harvy’s Bike Shop, planed my route and let it roll. The first ride was a bit challenging, but like any habit, by sticking with it each ride has become easier and easier and more routine. Now I’m no expert, but what I am becoming is more confident in a commute mode that gives me the ability to get to where I need to be when I want to be there.

By incorporating a short bike ride into a bus commute, I am able to achieve the mobility I want on my terms while saving the money I work very hard for. While I’m still a million bucks shy of being a millionaire, I have more money than I would than if I was driving to work everyday and I get a nice little workout in that wouldn’t happen since I’m too busy normally.

Remember, May is Bike Month and there a ton of great events out there to encourage you to ride you bike. But for me, what makes my bike commute pay is the fact that I keep more money that I make without having to sacrificing my personal commute freedom.

As part of his job helping businesses help employees get to work smarter, Mark coordinates Bike to Work events in Snohomish County. He believes in being a good “roll” model for transportation choices.

Bike to Work Day Ditty

2011-05-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Margaret Elwood, Guest Poet
Margaret uses Swift and her bicycle year-round to commute to work at Snohomish County PUD. She is a member of the "PUDlers" team in the Bike Commute Challenge presented by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County.

Take the Challenge! Cycling's cool.
Bike to work or bike to school.

Savvy cyclists think alike:
Take a bus ride with your bike.

Save some money - that's a perk.
Go get healthy: Bike To Work!

Bike to Work Day is May 20 and you can sign up for the Bike Commute Challenge through June 3.
Enjoy another of Margaret's poems here.

Transit Honored for Traffic Safety Contributions

2011-05-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

The Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Traffic Safety Task Force recently held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing law enforcement, youth, businesses and individuals who contributed to traffic safety in 2010.

Community Transit’s coach operators were among those honored as “Community Champions.”

Keeping our passengers and the roads of Snohomish County safe is the most important part of the job of being a Community Transit bus driver.

Of the agency’s more than 300 coach operators, 73 have received a Million Mile Safe Driving Award from the National Safety Council, representing 12 years of professional driving without a preventable accident.

In addition to being safe drivers themselves, Community Transit coach operators help keep our roads safe by providing an alternative means of transportation for people who have lost their driving privileges. Public transportation ensures that people who have lost their license do not also lose their ability to get to jobs, treatment and other resources.

Community Transit Coach Operator of the Year Al Mehau accepted the award on behalf of his colleagues, along with Community Transit Coach Operator Instructor Inder Sharma.

High Fuel Prices Cost Transit, Too

2011-05-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

By Dave Richards, Community Transit Director of Maintenance

High gas prices are causing individuals to cut back on their driving to save money.
How do fuel costs affect transit budgets?

For every one cent rise in diesel prices, we have an increase in operating costs of more than $31,000 per year. That is just for our fixed route buses. Fuel costs for our automobiles, DART paratransit service and vanpools increase as well.

Fuel, whether it is diesel or gasoline, is an expensive and necessary commodity in the public transportation business. We can’t just suddenly stop serving the customers who rely on us to do the driving for them. That doesn’t mean we can’t take actions to reduce the effects that fuel costs and fuel usage have on our ability to operate efficiently.

For an historic perspective of the volatility of fuel costs, in July 2008 we paid $3.95 a gallon for diesel fuel. In March 2009, we paid $1.28 a gallon. We are currently paying over $3.30 a gallon.
Although Community Transit is not required to pay taxes on the fuel we purchase, the remaining underlying costs do affect our prices and they change daily.

We buy our fuel through a state contract. This allows us to take advantage of discounts based on volume. By buying through this competitively bid contract, we have been able to keep our prices low compared to the regional retail market. We are also looking at the possibility of entering into contracts to reduce the price risk over a specified timeline. Fuel price risk alternatives are currently under study by our Administrative Department.

We have reduced both the need for and occurrences of idling coaches in the lot. When purchasing vehicles, we have evaluated equipment that will reduce fuel utilization and purchased those items when prudent. Examples include the hybrid drive systems on our Swift coaches and on 15 of the new 40-foot coaches that are now arriving to replace older buses. These new coaches also have an electric fan cooling system that will reduce the draw on the engine and, as a result, increase fuel mileage.

A little known fact about large diesel engines is that the newer the engine, generally the poorer the fuel mileage. This has been true since about 1997 when requirements for emissions reductions to reduce pollution were made at the expense of fuel economy.

It has proven to be more and more challenging to predict how much fuel will cost next year or even next month because of the volatile underlying cause and effects of prices. Our mid-year budget amendment includes an adjustment of $2.1 million to pay for the added costs of fuel in 2011. The best we can do is to remain informed and vigilant, be prepared for significant changes and take advantage of policies, procedures or technology that will increase our fuel efficiency.

Bus Supervisors Know Routes, Roads and Hills

2011-04-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Dana Osborn knows every road, every hill, every bus stop in Snohomish County.

You think I am exaggerating.

Dana has worked for Community Transit for 19 years. In his current job as transportation supervisor in charge of construction, he devises the reroutes and rider alerts needed when buses must avoid road work or special events.

When snow falls, a whole team of people come up with the reroutes needed to keep the buses moving. But it is Dana who recently wrote down the entire list of all the regular reroutes used during snow to avoid the known hills and hazards of Snohomish County. Hopefully we won't be needing that list for awhile.

It’s almost Dana’s busy season, when he works with cities and their contractors and tries to keep up with parades and events that temporarily block streets. He knows that if westbound Route 116 can’t turn onto Mill Creek Boulevard, for instance, three stops will be missed. He knows where the next closest stops are, so riders can find alternatives.

Dana does most of this work at a desk. He has an email list of 162 people he notifies when a route change is needed. Some of his work he does behind the wheel of a supervisor van, checking for safe turns or posting alerts. But sometimes, he devises reroutes on his way to work. Like when the Route 202 bus he was riding was stuck in traffic, as usual, at 4th Street in Marysville. He advised the driver to continue south on State Avenue and use the back way to avoid the congestion without missing any bus stops.

For all his technical knowledge, Dana is a people-person. He cares about bus riders – keeping them informed, getting them where they need to go. During our service changes, Dana directs the crew who posts rider alerts at bus stops where major impacts occur. The first service change Dana worked in that capacity was in 2003, when Community Transit renumbered and rerouted much of our service. Transportation supervisors posted 700 bus stop alerts, then made a trip to Seattle to get 200 more alert boards for posting.

Dana enjoys his co-workers, and can always be counted on to bring them a smile with his constant puns and self-deprecating humor. There’s a more famous Dana Osborn in the Puget Sound, for instance. “The other Dana has a rock band. I’ve just been banned,” says the bus supervisor.

He claims to be part of the dynamic duo of “Oxy” super heroes at Community Transit. “There’s Oxy Gene and Oxy Moron,” he says.

But in truth, Dana is a hero, too – championing bus riders and bus drivers in his everyday, understated way by providing rider and driver alert communications. “There’s a lot of good people out there that depend on the information,” he says.

Transit Values Exercise: Making Tough Choices

2011-04-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Community Transit continues to be impacted by the recession. Due to low sales tax revenues, the agency has been forced to cut service and restructure itself for an uncertain future economy.

As Community Transit considers the future, we are involving the public in our visioning process. CEO Joyce Eleanor hosted several public workshops involving a Transit Values Exercise that allows participants to walk in the shoes of transit planners and decision-makers.

Their task: to cut costs by 20 percent while prioritizing the kind of transit service they value most. The exercise is based on a fictional transit agency, but the data and the choices are real.

After the exercise, participants shared their thoughts on the process and the tough decisions facing Community Transit's leaders.

May is Bike Month – celebrate by cycling!

2011-04-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air (hopefully!?) and bicycles are taking to the streets. Sure, there are plenty of die-hard cyclists in this soggy region who bike year-round. But for the rest of us mortals, May marks the annual Bike Month when we’re inspired to dust off our bikes, tune up the tires and hit the roads.

This year, National Bike to Work Day will be held on Friday, May 20. You’ll find Celebration Stations set up all over the Puget Sound region, where bicycle commuters can stop by for healthy snacks, bike safety checks and some cyclist camaraderie. Community Transit has participated in Bike to Work Day events in Snohomish County since 2001, partnering with Everett Transit as part of both agencies’ commitment to helping businesses reduce employee drive-alone trips. The 2011 Bike to Work Day will see nine Celebration Stations around the county – find the one nearest your home or your workplace.

Community Transit also hosts the annual Bike Commute Challenge, presented this year by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County.
Teams of co-workers, neighbors and friends compete with each other for bragging rights and some stellar prizes. Last year saw 148 teams participate in the Bike Commute Challenge, logging over 85,000 miles and removing 10,453 single-occupancy vehicle trips from Snohomish County’s roadways. These cycle-powered trips eliminated 69,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, too – we can all breathe easier about that.

If you’re a past participant, welcome back! If you’re new, there are lots of resources to get you ready for your trips, whether you’re trying Bike to Work Day for the first time or going all-out in the Bike Commute Challenge. Several local groups even offer biking classes that’ll help get you road-ready (for Bike to Work events and classes in King County, visit Cascade Bicycle Club).

2011 Snohomish County Bike to Work Events

April 28 - Bike to Work Kick-Off Event
3 – 6 p.m. at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Everett.
Learn about the Bike Commute Challenge and how you can form a team. Stop by for a snack, check out the commuter bike display, practice with a bus bike rack and pick up Bike to Work brochures and posters to educate and encourage your co-workers, neighbors and friends.

April 30 - Alderwood REI CycleFest

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 3000 184^th St. SW, Suite 952, Lynnwood.

This event is designed to get you pumped about riding your bike. If you commute, race, ride or roll, you won't want to miss CycleFest. Your favorite vendors will be here as will local rides, races and clubs.

May 12 - Bike Commuting 101

7 p.m. at Snohomish County PUD, 2320 California Street, Everett.
Get some advice on how to get started as a new bicycle commuter at this friendly class hosted by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County. Learn about clothing, routes, bikes and gear, traffic laws and techniques, plus you can practice putting your bike on a bus bike rack and learn how to fix a flat.

May 20 - Bike to Work Day

6 – 9 a.m. at various locations
Find the Snohomish County Bike to Work Day Celebration Station location closest to you. Stop by and celebrate!

June 11 - Brunswick Majestic Lanes Bike & Bowl
2:30 – 5 p.m. at 1222 164th St., Lynnwood
Bike to Brunswick Majestic Lanes and get two games and shoe rental for $10 per person. Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. Brought to you by Curb the Congestion, a Community Transit program.

May 16 – June 17 - Snohomish County Bike Commute Challenge, Presented by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County
Teams of 4 to 10 members compete for prizes and bragging rights. Register online by June 3 and log those trips!

Transit Values Exercise gets at vision, values

2011-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Just a week ago Thursday, CEO Joyce Eleanor announced Community Transit will have to cut service 20 percent in 2012. The word got out fast. At a transit values exercise on Saturday, nearly every person in the room raised their hand when Joyce asked if they had heard the news. (The others quickly turned to the person next to them and said, “They’re doing what?”)
Ninety people participated in the four transit values exercises held this month. Gearing up for these public sessions, the exercise had been conducted on about 150 employees as it was being developed in February and March.
The exercise is not about deciding which routes to cut or save, it is about the trade-offs that go into cutting service. For instance, if you cut bus frequencies you’re also going to cut ridership. If you want high efficiency you’re going to have to cut geographic coverage.
There is also the human cost, which is why the service choices were framed in profiles of fictitious bus riders. This is no bureaucratic decision.
We called this a visioning process because it helps to shape your own values and visions for a balanced transit system.
Soon, on June 2, we’ll move into the alternatives process where everyone will see the alternative service proposals and comment on them. Before we get there, we’d still like to invite people to experience the transit values exercise in a less staff-intensive manner.
A new web page walks you through the exercise, with photos and the Rider Cards themselves. After each session we stopped participants and asked them on camera what they thought. We’ll have those videos posted soon.
What do you think?

Driving Is An Expensive Choice

2011-04-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

I went shopping at REI this weekend to spend my dividend and use my discount, along with thousands of other members and shoppers. We started at the Alderwood REI, but soon confirmed that we needed more choices. We had brought our ORCA cards just in case we wanted to take Sound Transit to the downtown Seattle REI.

Just as we were heading to Lynnwood Transit Center, one of those spring squalls passed through. We decided to drive to Seattle instead.

It was an expensive choice.
At the downtown REI, the store lot was full and the streets were jammed with cars looking for parking. We circled the block a few times and settled on a $3 lot. Two hours later, with very little to show for our trip to Seattle, we emerged from the store and headed for dinner on Capitol Hill.

Things have changed up there since the last time I visited, but one thing is the same: parking is at a premium. After more circling of blocks, we gave up and pulled into the $2 per half hour lot.

That made our nice dinner feel rather rushed, and we didn’t get to walk it off up Broadway as we would have liked. Instead, we went back to the car, paid our $4 and realized we really didn’t have enough gas to make it home.

Buying gas in downtown Seattle? We put $10 in at $4.29 per gallon. Yes, back in the day that used to fill a tank, but this week it basically covered the gas we spent driving down I-5.

Which brings our grand total out-of-pocket travel expense for this junket to $17. Had we taken the bus, it would have been $6*, no circling, no rushing and a pleasant (mostly dry) walk or two.

Many Americans don’t often consider that they have choices other than driving their own car. But I do. Just two weeks ago we had a lovely weekend in Seattle, all accomplished by bike and bus (out of pocket cost that time: $4.75**).

High gas prices are getting many of us to think outside the box that is our cars. With a little planning and preparation, we do have transportation choices. If you spent your REI dividend on a raincoat, backpack or rubber-toed shoe things (or even a cute top to wear out to dinner with the money you save), you have what you need to make a smart one.

*One round-trip fare on Sound Transit. My fare is covered since I work for one of the large Puget Sound employers that provides a bus pass as part of its Commute Trip Reduction program. Quite a bene.
** One-way on Swift, one way on Sound Transit.

A Bad News Day

2011-04-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

It was a bad news day for CommunityTransit, and our riders. CEO Joyce Eleanor hosted a press conference yesterday to describe the agency’s financial situation and the necessity for significant budget cuts in 2012.

You can read her full speech on our website – and probably saw parts of it on the evening news.

This is just the beginning of a long process to develop service alternatives (going on right now), get public input on them in June, host a public hearing before our board in July and get a final decision from the board in September. The cuts themselves won’t take place until February 2012.

Other transit agencies in Washington are facing similar financial woes due to the recession.

King County Metro and Sound Transit have raised fares and face large cuts and budget shortfalls in the near and long term.
Pierce Transit hosts its first hearing on service cuts on Monday. The agency is already operating reduced service due to a fire earlier this year.

Down in Vancouver, Washington, the C-Tran board considers on Tuesday when it will put transit funding proposals on the ballot.

There’s better news at Whatcom Transportation Authority, where Bellingham voters supported a new tax to restore Sunday service, and at Intercity Transit, where Olympia voters approved a sales tax increase to fend off cuts and modestly improve service.

But generally, it's safe to say there's bad news all over. And that's not good.

Edmonds Students Join the ORCA Tap Dance

2011-04-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Edmonds Community College has partnered with Community Transit to provide bus pass benefits to students for more than 15 years.

The student government pays Community Transit based on EdPass usage, and the percentage of students getting the transit sticker hit all-time highs in the 2009-2010 academic year – an average of 71% of full-time equivalent students. To keep from breaking the bank and to share the costs a bit, a quarterly fee of $15 per pass was imposed last fall for the first time (the value of the unlimited pass is at least 10 times that). Despite the small cost, 2,828 Edmonds students purchased an EdPass bus sticker last fall.

The popular program takes another new twist this quarter. The EdPass bus benefit is now powered by ORCA.

The days of quarterly bus stickers and confusion about how to pay for Swift bus rapid transit are over. To pay their bus pass fee each quarter, students now enroll in the “ORCC class” when they register for other classes.

When boarding a bus, instead of students showing their EdPass /ORCA card to the driver or Swift Ambassador, they now tap it on the ORCA reader – just like the other bus passengers. It will speed boarding and simplify quarterly bus pass renewals. Beyond that, the new EdPass/ORCA card will provide better data on how (and how often) college students use transit.

Unlike regular ORCA cards, the EdPass/ORCA card as provided by the college is good only on Community Transit buses. But now students can add pass or cash value to their EdPass/ORCA for trips on Sound Transit or other systems rather than needing a separate ORCA card or cash.

The EdPass has always been a great reason to choose Edmonds. Kudos to the student government leaders who have remained committed to this program and made it even more valuable with the addition of the EdPass/ORCA card.

Return of the Double Tall

2011-03-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

Despite the dreary rain and wind, it was a bright morning for some Snohomish County commuters on Community Transit's Routes 413 and 415.

Surprise surprise! Riders watched a shiny, new 14-foot high Double Tall bus roll up to their stop to welcome them aboard.

My co-worker Jason and I met up with the bus and its driver, Ron, at 4 a.m. to tag along on those first trips and record a virtual ride-along for fans of our Facebook page. We loved seeing the surprised looks on customers' faces as we rolled up. We took some photos and chatted with customers, many of whom welcomed the return of the much-loved Double Tall. Others took a ride for the first time; we suggested they sit up top, of course.

Some choice quotes overheard this morning:

"London's not going to have anything on us!"

"Reminds me of JetBlue..."

"What did you do today? Oh, I rode on a double-decker bus!"

My personal favorite:

"Watching this bus pull in to Mountlake Terrace was, like...WHOA."

You said it all, sir. We saw lots of smiles, thumbs up from passers-by, people snapping pics with their phones.

Customers can expect to find the Double Tall on various commuter routes to and from Seattle. There are 23 buses total, and the rest of the fleet will be going into service over the coming weeks (maybe even one more this afternoon!). To see the photos from the ride-along, visit our Facebook page.

And keep your eyes peeled for the Return of the Double Tall on Snohomish County's (and Seattle's) streets.

Commute Alternatives Help Business Move

2011-03-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Note: Korry Electronics was named Employer of the Year at the Community Transit Smart Commuter Awards earlier this month. Below is a portion of the remarks presented at the event by Korry Director of Human Resources Victoria Lindsey.

By Victoria Lindsey
Esterline Control Systems, Korry Electronics

A bit of background - Korry had been Seattle-based employer since it was first established in 1937. We were at our South Lake Union address for 25 years. That was our home, our neighborhood. So moving was – like it would be for many companies – an emotional, traumatic occasion for many employees.

About three years ago, it became inevitable that we had to move locations. The decision to move to the Paine Field area near Mukilteo really raised an outcry. We had employees from all over Puget Sound , and moving 20 miles away was going to really disrupt lifestyles. So we were faced with a real challenge to persuade and motivate employees to come with us!

A committee was formed to survey employees, meet in small groups, and really dive into people’s fears and concerns. The top concern was, “How am I going to get there (new location) and how long will it take?”

The importance of commute alternatives now became a key management focus. The employee support committee began developing a strong transportation program . The main decision was to increase our vanpool subsidy from 75% to 100% of the cost and provide monthly incentives to employees who drive the vans, as well as incentives to back-up drivers. Employees wanted to ride in a van, very few wanted to drive.

With more knowledge about the improved vanpool program and the incentives, people really came around. While many were self-sufficient in planning new commutes, we had a large number – over 100 employees – who were confused, upset and quite honestly, baffled by the alternatives. One key to our program success has been having a skilled CTR Coordinator, Joni Hards, an HR administrator.

Joni spent the time with each employee, discussing the possibilities, listening to their objections, concerns, and challenges – and she made it all work so that every employee had a commute solution by the time the move started in August 2009.

When the last employee group had moved, the number of vanpoolers had increased to 35% of the workforce and just about 50% of our employees overall use some form of alternative commuting to get to work – vanpool, carpool, bicycle, walk.

So, while we were prepared to lose - and dreaded to lose- up to 30% of our employees in the first year after moving, we lost less than 1% - just four employees resigned from Korry in 2010 because of the move/commute.

What has made this possible is the support we receive from Community Transit Transit Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Mark Melnyk and the Community Transit Vanpool Program. They have been a wonderful partner, helping us with all our questions, modifications and program design.

There’s one particular bit of serendipity. Korry has about a dozen employees who rode their bicycles to work in Seattle, and they wanted to be able to ride to the Beverly Park location. However, the additional distance made it a bit impractical. The commission of the Swift service provided our bicycle riders with a way to ride the bus with their bikes, then get off at a specific stop on Highway 99 and ride the rest of the way to the plant. They love the option it gives them and we didn’t have to do anything ourselves!

We hired about 40 new employees last year, they like the commute benefits we offer as much as our employees with longer tenure and often, they join vanpools immediately after starting work.

For Korry, it is critical for us to retain our talent – we absolutely depend upon the knowledge and skill of our employees. Our move was a tremendous success; we are very happy to be members of the Snohomish County business community and we thank Community Transit for being a part of our success!

Korry has participated in the state Commute Trip Reduction program since the law was first implemented in 1991.

Join the Conversation

2011-03-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

As I’ve mentioned in past posts, public transportation is social. I’ve known bus riders who celebrated birthdays (with cake) on board, who met and fell in love, who seemingly share their life stories or simply a small part of their day with each other.

So it’s only right that Community Transit jumped on the social media band wagon early, launching our Facebook page in fall 2008. Government pages don’t have “friends,” but more than 850 people “like” us. Actually, we know many more of you like us, so check out our page! We have some interesting discussions there, with hot topics including service changes and Double Talls, the replacement fleet of double decker buses.

We have three dozen videos posted on our YouTube channel. The most popular one is “How to Ride Swift.” You certainly don’t need to watch to ride, but it’s a great introduction to bus rapid transit.
We started this blog about one year ago with a post titled “Proposed Service Changes -- Let's Chat!” That topic still holds the record for most comments, 55.

Community Transit is encouraging the public to “Join the Conversation” with us on Facebook, the Community Transit blog and YouTube. Customers can comment on transit-related topics on any of these social media spaces and join the ongoing dialogue.

Of course, social media comments are different than our official “customer comments,” which should always go through Customer Information at (425) 353-RIDE (7433) or riders@commtrans.org. Comments submitted to Customer Information are entered in our system, sent to the appropriate departments and tracked as a matter of public record.

Comments submitted through social media are public, too – in the sense that anyone can read them and respond. That’s what a conversation is all about.

State House, Senate Transportation Budgets Released

2011-03-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

Both the state House and Senate transportation budgets were released this week. While neither contains a comprehensive plan for funding transit, there was a key difference between the two.
The House included funding for a Regional Mobility Grant application submitted by Community Transit to bring back a minimal level of Sunday service. The Senate budget does not include this funding.

Altogether, the grant request is for $4.3 over four years and would allow Community Transit to operate about 30 percent of the service that it had before Sunday service was suspended in 2010.

The House Transportation Committee held a hearing on its transportation budget Monday, but is discussing the budget in executive session today.

The Senate Transportation Committee is holding a hearing on the transporation budget at 3:30 p.m. today.

One item that is included in both budgets is continued Regional Mobility Grant funding for Swift operations. This grant was approved by the Legislature last biennium, but since the grant runs into the new biennium, funding is up for approval again. This grant provides $1.25 million annually for Community Transit to operate its Swift bus rapid transit line each year through the end of FY2012.

Adding A Walk in Mountlake Terrace

2011-03-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

Studies have shown that transit users are more likely to get their daily recommendation of exercise than non-transit users. People are also willing to walk a little farther for high quality – as in frequent – transit service.

Mountlake Terrace riders will get both starting on Monday. The opening of the Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station means Seattle commuters there will go from walking across the parking lot to walking across I-5 (on a bridge) to catch a bus.

There will be three times more buses to catch there, and commuters will go from having primarily commute-hour only options to 15-minute service all day long.

Unfortunately, some of the riders who will have to walk further aren’t too happy about it. Canyon Park area bus riders went through a similar transition a few years ago. In both cases, keeping buses on the freeway saves transit agencies time – and money that’s in short supply .

It also costs riders time. But for myself, I think of that time getting to the bus stop as exercise, not added commute time. Remember hearing that even short bouts of 10 minutes of exercise can be good for you? It won’t take most people that long to walk to the Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station.

Enjoy the artwork along the way (some by local high school students, some by professionals).

Participants sought for Transit Values Exercise

2011-03-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Community Transit continues to be impacted by the recession. Due to low sales tax revenues, the agency has been forced to cut service and restructure itself for an uncertain future economy.

Our mission of providing quality public transportation service has not changed, but the way we go about it is evolving.

As the agency considers its future, we are looking to involve our customers in our visioning process. Community Transit will host two fun and informative workshops involving a Transit Values Exercise that will allow you to walk in the shoes of a transit planner and decision-maker.

In this exercise you will engage in an interactive round of transit design to experience the real-world trade-offs similar to those Community Transit must make when considering service changes.

The 2½-hour workshops will be held on Saturday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 12.

We are limited to 25 participants for each workshop.
If you are interested in attending please RSVP with your date preference no later than March 18 March 23 to Donna Clausen at donna.clausen@commtrans.org. If you can make either date, please let us know; that may improve your chances of being selected.

Sat., April 9, 9 - 11:30 a.m.OR
Tues., April 12, 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Both workshops will be held at Everett Station, accessible by Community Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit buses and Sounder trains.

Local Riders Rely On Community Transit

2011-03-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Community Transit conducts comprehensive surveys of our riders every three to four years. On-board surveys provide valuable information about rider habits and demographics. We use survey data when considering service changes, to apply for grants, to improve rider communications and to plan for the future.

Our 2006 survey was a joint project with Everett Transit. That data proved extremely useful as we planned our Swift system, and also showed some of the differences between Everett and Community Transit systems and riders.

Our 2010 survey used many of the same questions to allow comparison. We also geo-coded all the survey data so we can map where people started and ended their bus trips. The process of analyzing that data for service planning purposes is ongoing.

Meanwhile, here are some more top level survey results focusing on the all-day service we provide within Snohomish County on our local and Swift service. Local buses and Swift ridership accounted for 68% of all passenger boardings in 2010.

Local buses have the most riders under age 18. Local and Swift and University District buses are about tied for riders in the 19-24 age group. These numbers are a factor not only of moms with strollers, but also of bus pass agreements with Edmonds School District, Edmonds Community College and the University of Washington Seattle and Bothell campuses.

Local riders really depend on Community Transit to save them money and get them around.

Almost 40% report household income of less than $20,000 per year.
39% do not have a car available. When we average in commuter and Swift riders, 28% of Community Transit riders overall do not have a car.
18% are unable to drive . The system average is 13%.

Even though many local riders are low income and have less education than our other rider groups, 19% earn $50,000 a year or more and more than 22% have a bachelor’s degree and even higher education.

Local and Swift riders are Community Transit’s most gender-balanced group – about 50-50 male and female. Boeing riders are 77% male, while U-District riders are 62% female.

About 7% of riders overall report Hispanic origin. Local and UW routes have the most diversity, with about 1/3 of riders reporting an ethnic background other than white.

No matter the route type, most people use the bus to get to work, school or home from work or school.

March 20 Service Changes

2011-03-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Community Transit's next service change takes effect March 20, with the opening of the new Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station. This stop in the median of I-5 will allow commuter buses to serve the transit center without the hassle of offramps and traffic signals.

Sound Transit will begin service to Mountlake Terrace as Routes 511 and 513 will begin stopping at the freeway station. Community Transit will reconfigure some routes, eliminating two commuter routes and serving the freeway station with existing commuter service. This will save Community Transit money while at the same time dramatically increase the number of daily trips to and from Seattle serving Mountlake Terrace.

Staff are out and about the next two weeks letting customers know about the upcoming service change. Details can be found on our website or on Bus Plus schedule books, which have just made it onboard buses. Only a few routes have actual changes, so it's possible you may not need a new book. Those who are picking up new books are encouraged to hold on to that same book until February 2012 to help keep costs down.

Yesterday, staff were onboard Route 477 morning trips to let riders know that route is being canceled and new Route 111 will serve the Brier-MLT loop.

Thursday, March 10, staff will be at the Ash Way Park & Ride in the early morning to talk about Routes 413 and 415 stopping at MLT for the first time.

Thursday, March 17, staff will be at the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center in the morning discussing changes to service. At noon that day, Sound Transit will hold a grand opening for the new freeway station.

Finally, Community Transit staff will be at the transit center on Monday, March 21 as most of the new service changes take effect.

Snow Puts Communications to the Test

2011-03-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

Last week’s snow put a crimp in many people’s plans. For Community Transit, it allowed us to test some of our plans for rider communications and temporary service reductions.

Our Transportation Department has developed a list of trips that may be dropped during inclement weather if equipment, extreme delays or other issues cause shortages. By planning ahead to reduce service strategically, we can keep other buses running smoothly and give passengers an idea what to expect in advance.

On Thursday morning, the expected worst day, I got a ride in to work with our Customer Relations manager, who was also bringing one of his staff to the office to ensure our phones were staffed at 5:30 a.m. as usual. Instead of going to my office, I spent the morning in the phone room. I got to hear one end of customer calls, as well as listen to our dispatchers on the radio as buses were rerouted.

We posted 19 alerts to our website that morning form 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., and sent 12 email alerts to our rider alert subscribers. Our web traffic was double normal, and peaked between 5 and 8 a.m. On each day when snow was a possibility we posted an alert before 5 a.m., and also sent an email to customers in the afternoon or evening forecasting the next day’s service.

Our work was not done on Friday afternoon, however. When snow hit parts of Snohomish County on Saturday evening, my co-worker emailed rider alerts from home to affected subscribers. All our hard work was rewarded when we received this email from the Customer Relations supervisor:

"My wife and I are currently on the 510 out of Seattle. I just overheard a customer talking to the driver telling her that his next bus (280) was rerouted. He told the driver that he had just received a text message about the reroute.

Thank you for posting this information in such a timely manner. I just wanted to let you know that our customers are using the information and appreciate the service. It is especially useful after hours.

Well done."

How did our communications and service work for you last week? We’d value your feedback.

Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station

2011-02-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Washington State Department of Transportation is a partner in this Sound Transit construction project - sited in the middle of I-5. So they have a very nice slideshow which illustrates the progress so far. My favorite photo shows the elevator shaft. While most of the other work at the Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station is wrapping up, the elevator may be one of the last items to get a green light.

It's all scheduled to open for buses and business on March 20. The freeway station is connected to Community Transit's Mountlake Terrace Transit Center, and the new service stopping there will more than triple the number of buses operating between Mountlake Terrace and Seattle.

Do the Math and Curb the Congestion

2011-02-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

By Debbie Anderson, Curb the Congestion Specialist

Looking at facts, figures and strategies is what Matthew Cail does every day in his job as an analyst. But he didn’t need any of that expertise to figure out the most cost-effective way to get from his home in Lynnwood to Downtown Seattle – it was easy!

Matthew rides Route 413 or 415 almost every day, taking the bus instead of driving his car on 164th Street. “Transit was a major factor in where I bought a house. I intentionally bought on a bus line,” he says. In the last quarter of 2010, Matthew logged more than 260 bus trips totaling more than 5,700 miles and saving him hundreds of dollars in gas alone.

Matthew’s trips are among the thousands removed from Snohomish County roads last year thanks to Curb the Congestion, a program funded by Snohomish County through grants and development feed and operated by Community Transit. “Curb” targets crowded roads in unincorporated Snohomish County with the goal of convincing people to choose alternatives to driving alone.

Curb the Congestion started in 2008 after Snohomish County declared 164th Street SW at “ultimate capacity,” creating a program to invest in transportation demand management and safety improvements rather than halt development or try to widen already built-out roads. In 2009, the county added 128th Street and 20th Street SE to the Curb the Congestion program.

As much as 25 % of Snohomish County’s population lives within the “traffic-shed” of these roads, living in almost 70,000 homes and apartments. Curb the Congestion offers each household personal assistance in finding carpools, planning bus trips and considering other alternatives to driving alone.

Lake Stevens participant Jennifer Dawson makes smarter trips on both 164th Street and 20th Street. In 2009, Jennifer started carpooling with a coworker who lives near Marysville. During the summer, they meet at the Lake Stevens Transit Center and share a ride to Bayer Healthcare in Lynnwood. During the school year, they meet at Everett Station. Jennifer often rides the bus home to Lake Stevens.

“Bus schedules can be confusing sometimes,” she says. “The Curb the Congestion personal assistant helps.”

There’s also an online calendar where participants commit to change and log their trips. It all adds up to behavior changes that make a difference in individual lives as well as on the roads of Snohomish County.

“Sitting in traffic is stressful. Sitting on the bus or chatting in the car with a friend on the way home is easier,” Jennifer says.

If you travel on one of the targeted roads, contact the Curb the Congestion Specialist about your commute options: (425) 438-6136 or curbit@commtrans.org.

Boeing Riders Love the Bus

2011-02-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Who rides Community Transit buses and why do they do so? The results of our 2010 On Board Survey begin to answer those questions. We have received a preliminary report on the 8,000 surveys returned last October. This will be the first of several blogs to discuss some of the results. I’ll break the posts into rider types based on routes.

Boeing Riders
Commuter Riders
University Riders
Local Riders
Swift Riders

First, some background. Community Transit operates four bus routes that serve Boeing: Route 227 from Arlington/Marysville, Route 247 from Stanwood, Route 277 from Monroe and Route 280 from Lake Stevens. Our Boeing-route passengers are a dedicated lot, based on the survey.

55% of Boeing riders have ridden Community Transit for six years or more.
31% have ridden for two to five years

Unfortunately, the corollary is also true: Boeing service is not attracting new riders. Only 6% started riding in the past year, compared to 20% new riders in our system overall.

Despite their long-term commitment to public transportation, Boeing bus riders are not a captive audience. Ninety-four percent say they own a car but choose to use transit. At the same time, Boeing riders are the least likely to drive to the bus of all our commuter riders (Boeing, Seattle or U-District service): 48% walk to their stops, while 38% drive.

Most Boeing riders pay for the bus with an ORCA card. As a company, Boeing subsidizes bus passes and vanpools and has other programs in place to encourage alternative transportation. If you’ve ever tried to get onto Highway 526 at 5:30 a.m. (or if you work at Boeing and try to park there), you’ll know that encouraging transit use is in Boeing’s self-interest. There’s also the state Commute Trip Reduction Law which requires large employers (and who is larger than Boeing?) to do their part in reducing congestion.

Because of the varying start times and shift work at Boeing, the increased flexibility of vanpools makes them more popular than buses. There are 88Community Transit vanpools to Everett Boeing, and many more from other counties around the region.

But something about Community Transit’s Boeing bus service obviously works for our long-term bus riders – or maybe it’s something about driving to Boeing that doesn’t work . Either way, we have something to learn from them about how to encourage more people to choose public transportation even when they have other options.

Where Are Those Double Talls?

2011-02-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

One of the most frequently asked questions we’re getting these days is why aren’t the new Double Tall double decker buses in service yet?

Many people are aware that the buses started arriving last fall and are now parked at our base. They’ve been seen around Everett as they go through road testing.

Fact is, a perfect storm of circumstances has transpired to keep them out of service so far…

A little background: Community Transit leased one double decker three years ago to try out in commuter service to Seattle. The bus can hold twice the number of riders as a typical 40-foot bus in the same amount of space, while using only one driver and roughly the same amount of fuel.

Our pilot testing of this bus went great. People loved the bus – the novelty of the stairs, the great views from above and the smooth ride of a triple-axle, single-frame chassis. We did a dwell time study for the Seattle Department of Transportation to see if it took longer to load and unload the Double Tall on busy downtown streets. The result: no. In fact, the shorter length of the bus compared to articulated buses helped to keep vehicles from “blocking the box” at rush hour.

The leased bus (yes, we only had one!) went back to the manufacturer and, in 2009, thanks to federal stimulus funding, Community Transit placed an order for 23 Double Talls to replace the oldest articulated buses in our fleet.

Now the storm…

Because Community Transit uses federal funding to buy its buses, there is a “Buy America” requirement – buses must be substantially built in the U.S. using mostly American-made parts.

The winner of our public bid for the double deckers was Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) of Great Britain – the world’s leading double decker manufacturer. To stake its claim in the American market, ADL specifically bid to build a “Buy America” compliant double decker, it’s first ever.

This new build process for ADL created some new issues with the buses, from working with new subcontractors to manufacturing at a U.S. plant. Some of these issues are still being resolved to meet Community Transit’s high standards. At the same time, our mechanics are spending lots of time with these buses to get to know how they work, installing ORCA, fare box and other equipment, and placing a new set of decals on these 14-foot tall buses.

We’re just about ready to hand these buses over to the drivers for training and they will soon (don’t ask for a date) be on the road!

The good news is we know that our customers are looking forward to these buses, and we know they will love them. The buses will save fuel and maintenance costs over those 1995-built artics they are replacing. They will expand capacity for riders, which is a good thing after the service cuts last year created more crowded commuter buses.

And, while we haven’t had the chance to test this yet, the Double Talls should perform well in icy conditions. Similar buses in other cities have been able to operate well in those conditions. Most of our commuter fleet is articulated buses, so when snowy or icy conditions hit we have to take those buses off the road. The Double Talls should help us to have enough buses to carry passenger demand during those bad weather periods.

Bus Stories

2011-02-04T15:37:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about public transportation is… the public. Community Transit riders truly do form a community. You may be anonymous on the bus and read your book, but you’re still elbow to elbow with someone else. That person by definition lives, works or travels the same places you do. In my view, knowing a little about each other is good for all of us (even if you do occasionally get TMI).

Community Transit has a project to tell the stories of some of our riders. It’s gotten the attention of Bus Chick, a blogger who shares my appreciation for the community shared by transit users.

Here are some of my bus stories from the past week:

On the way in to work one day, I spoke with a fellow rider about metaphysics, myths and, as the conversation roamed, modern medicine. He spends his bus time reading books on the first two subjects (I inserted the third topic).

Coming home one night, a man I know as a regular rider was on a much later trip than normal and holding on to a Bus Plus schedule book. Instead of his usual Sounder commute, he’d gone by bus to McCollum Park after work for a meeting. Turns out he is the Sheep Superintendent for the Evergreen State Fair and puts in a lot of volunteer time with 4-H.

Another morning, I arrived at my stop in Marysville a little late, as usual. I asked the woman waiting there if the bus had passed yet. She said, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” and started dialing her cell phone. I couldn’t imagine how a phone call was going to get us any useful information – after all, Community Transit doesn’t have real-time data on the location of our buses (yet), so Customer Service wouldn’t know.

However, turns out she has a high-tech, low-tech way to track the whereabouts of her bus. Her friend boards the route earlier in the trip. My fellow bus-stop waiter called that friend, who reported the bus was still on its way. Apparently, this type of real-time information sharing isn’t unusual for these two. We should all have a friend on the bus.

If you would like to share your bus – or vanpool – story with Community Transit, contact storytelling@commtrans.org.

Transit-Related Legislation

2011-02-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

By Todd Morrow, Community Transit Chief of Strategic Communications

Transportation funding is on the minds of both federal and state legislators this year.
At the state level, Rep. Marko Liias and other Snohomish County legislators are sponsoring House Bill 1536. This bill has a hearing scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in Olympia.

The bill would allow transit agency boards in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties the ability to impose a temporary “congestion reduction” fee on vehicles, up to $30 a year for two years. This is a tool to protect local transit service. A companion bill, SB 5457, has been filed in the Senate.

Most of Community Transit’s funding comes from a voter-approved nine-tenths of 1 percent sales tax, the maximum allowed by state law. Due to the recession, sales tax revenues have dropped below 2005 levels and are not bouncing back. Community Transit made significant service cuts in June 2010, and has cut its spending in other areas the past three years. However, more service cuts could be necessary in 2012 to balance the budget with current funding.

HB 1536 could generate approximately $11 million for Community Transit each of the two years it could be collected. For Snohomish County residents, the service that is protected by that funding could be their ride to work, or the trip to the store – both of which are needed for local economic recovery.

Service Change Delayed Until March 20

2011-02-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

Typically, Community Transit’s service change is timed to coincide with the other regional transit agencies. That date for this winter’s service change is Feb. 6. But Community Transit will not have its service change until March 20 due to construction delays on the Sound Transit Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station project.

Sound Transit’s service changes in Snohomish County also will be delayed until March 20.

Most of Community Transit’s changes this winter are centered around service in the Mountlake Terrace area, and at the transit center. The agency is taking advantage of the new freeway station to save some money by eliminating the two Seattle commuter routes that now run out of the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center and instead have two existing commuter routes pick up and drop off at the new freeway station.

Sound Transit Routes 511 and 513 will also use the freeway station to serve the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center starting March 20. Route 511 will operate every 15 minutes in both directions on weekdays, greatly increasing bus service for this area.

Other local bus changes help with connections to the transit center or realign service through the city of Mountlake Terrace.

When completed, the freeway station will make the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center another south county transit hub that could lure riders away from Lynnwood Transit Center or even Ash Way. Stay tuned for a grand opening announcement.

County Gets Grant for Transit

2011-01-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

Snohomish County employees are getting a free ride on transit thanks to a federal grant that supports Commute Trip Reduction efforts.

Snohomish County’s Sustainability Initiative got a $4.8 million Department of Energy block grant funded by the federal Recovery Act. The money goes to 12 different energy efficiency projects.

One of those projects offers free ORCA cards to all county employees in 2011. The ORCA regional fare card can be used by employees to get to work via Everett Transit, Community Transit or Sound Transit. The county’s usual Commute Trip Reduction program has covered part of the cost of a monthly transit pass, but these ORCA cards offer unlimited rides at no additional cost to the employee.

The County Campus is one of the places in the county with excellent public transportation: the frequent service of Swift and the transit hub of Everett Station are right nearby. Here’s hoping county workers will use their ORCA cards to give transit a try.

It’s Good to Have Backup

2011-01-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

Winter rains often bring mudslides down on Washington’s waterfront railroad tracks. Sound Transit’s Northline Sounder train service has been canceled several days in the past month due to slides between Everett and Seattle. For safety reasons, passenger service is not allowed through an area of mudslides for 48 hours, even if the tracks can be cleared before then.

When Northline Sounder service is canceled, Community Transit buses to Seattle help take up the slack. Last week we put 60-foot buses on trips from Edmonds and Mukilteo that usually have 40-footers – and some trips carried 75% more passengers than usual. I heard from a fellow passenger that local buses to Everett Station have also been more crowded when Sounder is canceled - Sound Transit buses from Everett are an obvious backup for train refugees.

Conversely, Sound Transit train service can be a good backup to bus service on I-5. When trains run, they usually don’t get stuck in traffic (not always – sometimes those pesky freight trains get priority). Trains also don’t get stuck in snow.

That’s why I got down to Everett Station the snowy Tuesday before Thanksgiving for my trip home for the holidays. I took Sounder to get to Link Light Rail and SeaTac Airport rather than my usual bus. I guessed correctly that I-5 would be a mess. The train was delayed about 20 minutes to “de-ice,” but it was far more reliable than road transportation that day.

The moral of the story is, our region benefits greatly from a robust transportation network. If one mode fails, we have backup.

Tough Year Had Some Bright Spots

2011-01-14T15:11:00.000-08:00

By Tom Pearce

Community Transit Public Information Specialist

Last year was a busy one for Community Transit, with a major service change and a fare change, the rapid growth of Swift bus rapid transit service and the start of the “Buy Local for Transit” campaign.

The service change that took place in June dominated the first half of the year, as Community Transit hosted public meetings around the service district. These meetings drew standing-room only crowds as riders came to learn about the proposed changes and voice their concerns. The Board of Directors hosted a lengthy public hearing in February, then in March reluctantly approved the suspension of Sunday service and other cuts. Final adjustments to the proposal were made in April, then it was time to implement the plan.

Community Transit conducted a massive public outreach in May and June to explain the changes to the public. Dozens of our employees were out riding buses or meeting passengers at park & ride lots in the six weeks prior to the changes. The education efforts appeared to be successful, as by the time the change was implemented on June 13, almost all passengers were aware of the changes.

The June fare change, which increased all fares by 25 cents, also was implemented smoothly and has helped balance the budget.

Swift had a big year, as ridership increased steadily as the months passed. By the end of November – which marked the completion of one year of Swift service – ridership had increased from about 1,500 boardings on the first day to 3,500 per day. The average daily boardings after one year were 40 percent higher than estimates.

Swift was recognized as one of the region’s best projects with a Vision 2040 Award, designed to recognize outstanding work that helps our region grow wisely and improves the quality of life in all of the region’s communities. Swift won numerous national transit and advertising industry awards as well.

Community Transit’s staff also collected awards and honors throughout the year. The team of Howard Evans, Steve Hanks and Joe Hulett paid their own way to Cleveland to participate in the 2010 International Bus Maintenance Roadeo, and finished third out of 25 teams. In 2009, the trio won the championship.

Another the highlight of the year was the number of long-time safe drivers Community Transit recognized. Three coach operators became Two Million Mile Drivers: Betty Burns, Carl Huth Jr. and Merlin Yost. To earn that recognition, each had to meet the National Safety Council’s standard of 25 years without a preventable accident. Community Transit also honored 11 coach operators as Million Mile Drivers, for 12½ years without a preventable accident: Tim Caldwell, Mary Davis, Michael Felt, Reza Ghandari, Cris Healy, Solomon Habte, Amjad Khalil, Mike Majors, David Rix, Dorothy Saarinen and Diane Sassé.

Community Transit capped the year by rolling out its “Buy Local for Transit” campaign. This long-term effort is designed to encourage people to shop in our communities, strengthening local businesses and increasing local tax revenues, which supports public transportation. Community Transit is funded primarily through a portion of retail sales taxes generated in its service district, which includes most of Snohomish County.

With 2010 in the books, Community Transit now turns its attention to the future. This year our agency will be busy planning for a sustainable level of service based on the new economic realities. Your involvement will be critical to that process. Keep reading this blog for more information.

Snow Fun

2010-12-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Like so many adults, I used to love snow. As a kid, it’s great when school is canceled and you have nowhere to go but outside to make a snowman.
Now my perspective has changed. When it snows, someone from the Community Transit Agency Communications Team gets up at 4 a.m. (hours after Transportation and Maintenance staff have already been at work assessing road conditions and chaining buses). Communications staff post to our website and email Rider Alerts about any reroutes or major schedule changes. Then, we figure out how we’re going to get to the office.

Some people who aren’t regular bus riders turn to transit in snowy conditions. That explains why we had a run on Bus Plus books Thanksgiving week. Of course, as our planning supervisor pointed out, in such conditions the schedule pretty much goes out the window, so to speak.

Buses run late or trips are delayed or canceled during snow or icy conditions for many reasons. Articulated buses do not work well in snow, so when we need to take them off the road to avoid mishaps, that reduces our commuter fleet by 65 percent. That’s one reason we were only able to commit to limited service to Seattle on Thanksgiving week.

Chaining buses for snowy roads – and sometimes needing to take the chains off again a few miles away – can cause delays both due to the chain-up time and the reduced speeds required once chains are on. Reroutes around icy hills can also add time and delay.

Finally, bus drivers have trouble getting to work in bad conditions just like other people, so sometimes manpower is an issue.

That last issue definitely figures in when snow lasts for several days. Consider that the last commuter bus driver from the Monday, Nov. 22 commute returned to base from his Stanwood Route 422 run at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday morning. Safety, as well as contract rules, would not allow that driver to return to work again for at least 8 hours.

We know winter travel can be grueling for our customers as well, whether you’re waiting extra long in cold weather or sitting on a bus that’s moving the speed of traffic (not). Even people who leave the driving to us are wise to stay home in snowy conditions if they can. On Nov. 23, we had only 10 percent of usual ridership to Seattle.

People who do ride appreciate the skill and service of our bus drivers. Of the hundreds of trips we operated and miles we drove, we had only nine minor crashes during the snow, most of which were other people sliding into us. Here’s what one of our Facebook friends had to say on our discussion board about his “Snow Commute:"

"I'm not sure who she was, but she was AWESOME! The driver for Route 415 the night of Nov. 22nd did an absolutely amazing job in handling the situation. She deftly maneuvered the articulated bus through the maze of the jack-knived articulateds on I-5, without a scratch. She kept the bus warm enough and was courteous the entire evening.

I boarded the bus at 4th & Union at 7pm. It took over an hour just to get onto Olive Way and over another hour to get onto I-5. We arrived at Ash Way at 12:30am."
Trevor Vance

R. Bruce Soule is quoted in a North County Outlook story about the snow:

"Five hours on a bus for a one-hour trip is about as much fun as getting a root canal. My thanks to our Community Transit driver who opened up the 'drivers only' bathroom at the Lynnwood Park and Ride when we got there, four hours into our journey home. I hope he gets one heck of a Christmas present this year."

Maybe we could get a non-White Christmas?

Ah, heck. I still love snow. I guess we adults just need to go out and make a snowman sometimes.

Madison Swift Station to Open Dec. 21

2010-12-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

The first of the four new Swift stations in Everett is set to open next week, on Tuesday, Dec. 21. The Madison Street Station will serve northbound riders on Evergreen Way at Madison, adjacent to an Albertson’s supermarket.

These four new stations were in the original plan for Swift, but were deferred due to funding. Everett Transit, which is responsible for funding Swift stations in Everett, was able to secure a grant from the state Regional Mobility program to build the four stations this year.

These stations will have the same amenities as the other Swift stations, including ORCA card readers, ticket vending machines and a curb bumper right from the start! Those bumpers help protect the buses and the curb.

The Madison Street station and its southbound counterpart at Pecks Drive will fill in the largest gap on the Swift route. Buses now travel 2 miles between the Casino Road and 50th Street stations.

The northbound Madison Street and southbound Pecks Drive stations are a split pair, nearly a quarter mile apart. This is due to the fact that a utility banks exists on the far-side Madison Street corner southbound; the near-side corner has a driveway that presents the only streetside entrance to a bank. Everett Transit Routes 7 and 9 serve the distance between, or you can walk by one of the last Der Weinerschnitzel’s in the area!

The Pecks Drive station will be the last of the new stations to open, as it was the last to get underway. Construction was held off until after Halloween to accommodate the adjacent Value Village store. That station, and the two stations at Evergreen and 112th Street should open in early 2011.

The Future of Swift

2010-12-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

By June DeVoll
Community Transit Swift Project Manager

One of the benefits of bus rapid transit is the ability to incrementally add to the service to improve it. While Swift is already performing extremely well, there are additional upgrades underway to help ensure speed and reliability.

Additional Everett Stations
In the original partnership agreement between Community Transit and Everett Transit, Everett Transit agreed to fund the construction of all stations within city limits. In 2008, four of the originally identified stations were deferred to a later date to manage the overall project cost for Everett Transit. Everett Transit was subsequently successful in obtaining a State Regional Mobility Grant to build the remaining stations.

The four stations are now underway at Madison (northbound) Pecks (southbound) and 112th Street. Two of the stations are substantially complete, but still need all electronic equipment activated and commissioned. Current projections will have all four stations opened within the first quarter of 2011.

Traffic Signal Priority
Currently, traffic signal priority (TSP) exists on the southern 10.5 miles of the 16.7 mile route. The City of Everett is continuing with their project to install TSP at all intersections within the city limits, but progress has been slow. The city controllers are over 30 years old and are incapable of prioritizing the signal. When activated in the current configuration, the Swift emitters allow signal pre-emption and hold the lights green for Swift coaches (more like the immediate priority given to emergency vehicles than the slightly extended green lights intended for transit).

The city has had many changes on this project, but the current timeline includes possible installation of new equipment by summer 2011. The additional TSP will give Swift coaches priority through the entire corridor and help reduce travel time even more.

Queue Jump at 148th Street
The Swift corridor includes 6.5 miles of "Business Access and Transit" lanes in the southern portion of the route on Highway 99, which give the coaches a priority in the curb lane. However, where the lane ends at 148th Avenue, the coaches must proceed north through the intersection and then merge into the general purpose traffic. Often, coaches get trapped waiting for a safe gap. A “queue jump” signal would give Swift a green light before the general purpose lanes, allowing buses to merge safely. A federal grant was obtained this summer and discussions are underway with the Washington State Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction on the traffic signal. It is estimated the queue jump could be in place by summer 2011.

Advanced Technology
When Community Transit's Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) project comes to fruition, it will have many beneficial impacts on Swift.

With the Automatic Vehicle Locators (AVL), dispatchers will have a real time display of coaches to help manage the “headway performance,” keeping buses consistently 10 minutes apart on weekdays.

With the Automatic Passenger Counters (APC), accurate and reliable passenger counts will be available at all times. APC’s will give robust passenger data about where and when customers board Swift, usage by trip and by time of day, and deboarding locations also.

The Automatic Annunciation System will perhaps be one of the first items that passengers notice. The coaches will automatically announce all stops as they approach the station. Coach operators do this manually now, but the sound quality is not as good as we’d like because buses were design for the automated system.

The Real Time Passenger Information signs will be installed at each station and will show customers precisely when the next coach will arrive – thus reducing stress and worry about catching a bus.

Swift by the Numbers

2010-12-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

6.3% of Swift passengers bring a bike on board, more than five times higher than our system average of 1.1% bike boardings. The Swift racks hold 50% more bikes than average, too (three bikes vs. two).

9-12% of Swift passengers are students at Edmonds Community College using their EdPass transit benefit.

12 seconds is how long buses spend at each station for passengers to board and deboard.

15 hybrid diesel vehicles are used to operate Swift.

20% less time than local buses to travel the 17 miles from Everett to Shoreline - about 50 minutes.

43 seats per bus – less than usual to leave room for three doors, wider aisles, interior bike racks and easier wheelchair boarding.

44% of Swift riders use an ORCA card for faster boarding and transfer credit.

62-feet long articulated buses, the longest in our fleet

90% of Swift operating costs for its first three years are paid for by grants, fares and our partnership with Everett Transit.

200 or more boardings an hour from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.. on weekdays. That’s a long peak period.

May I See Your Swift Ticket Please?

2010-12-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

By Mario Rojas
Community Transit Swift Ambassador

Neither cold winter nights nor hot summer afternoons nor rainy spring days nor freezing fall mornings prevented us from performing our daily endeavors as proud members of the Community Transit family during this past year. However, you may ask yourselves, what exactly does a Swift Ambassador do?

As Swift Ambassadors we boarded more than 8,100 Swift coaches this past year and we conducted over 75,700 individual fare inspections. Each fare inspection began with a warm greeting to each Swift passenger followed by a request that each rider present to us their individual valid Swift tickets, tapped ORCA cards, acceptable coupons or current passes.

Approximately 70,100 riders presented a valid form of bus fare during our fare inspections. We issued and documented 890 verbal or written warnings to invalid fare holders; however, each and every individual Swift passenger was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. For our many passengers, the role of the Swift Ambassador in assisting with and verifying fare payment is much appreciated. We have answered many questions concerning ticket purchases, fare price variations, ORCA card purchases and “tap” process and ticket vending machine procedures.

We have also assisted the members of the Community Transit Police/Snohomish County Sheriff‘s Office during our shared ambassador and police fare inspections. Also, we created and updated daily a shared database that has been a successful source of information for both agencies.

Each of our passengers is unique and their travel experiences while on-board Swift are equally unique as well.

For example, for students, the Swift service represented a quick and affordable form of transportation while maintaining a balance with educational expenses. For parents, Swift meant a savings in transportation needs that in turn can be used for groceries and other family-related expenses. For the “green” minded commuter, this mode of hybrid transportation is a way to sustain and contribute to a positive ecological environment that will no doubt benefit future generations. For the disabled and senior passenger, Swift was symbolic of self-reliance, freedom and mobility.

Many of our passengers relied on the members of the Swift Ambassador team for directions to correct rider destinations; accurate information regarding Swift station stops; transferring or connector points for inner and outer bus agency routes; Spanish information assistance; directions to popular landmarks such as major department stores, government agencies and eating establishments; and we also conducted on-the-spot trip planning via the Community Transit “Bus Plus” schedule and map book.

This was a very successful year for all members of the overall Swift service team and it was a most valuable hands-on education and experience for the Swift Ambassadors as well; thus, we look forward to the ever-present challenges and opportunities of the next forthcoming year and remember… as Swift Ambassadors, we are here to insure that your ride on-board Swift is your best bus rapid transit experience ever!!!

Many thanks for reading and for riding.

The Swift Ambassador Team

Swift Ridership Exceeds Expectations

2010-11-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

By Martin Munguia
Community Transit

Transit ridership is always a sticky subject. You can look at hard numbers, but mode-to-mode comparisons, and sometimes even year-to-year or month-to-month snapshots on the same system can be apples to oranges.

But as we close in on a year of data, we can unequivocably say that Swift has met or exceeded all ridership expectations.

We had forecast that Swift corridor ridership would increase 25 percent in its first year. Considering that ridership on our buses overall has dropped this year, it is impressive that we’ve met this goal. The corridor statistic is important because when we started Swift we eliminated the one-way, peak-hour Route 100. Six months later we reduced frequencies on Route 101. While we knew we’d have people already riding buses on the corridor switch to Swift, we also expected overall ridership to increase.

It certainly did!

Corridor ridership is up about 24 percent since December 2009. If you take the Community Transit routes that run primarily on Highway 99/Evergreen Way/Rucker Avenue, you see that the corridor had about 6,600 passengers per weekday last December. In October 2010 those routes had about 8,200 boardings each weekday.

Swift bus rapid transit service is the reason for that increase. December 2009, the first full month of Swift, saw an average daily ridership of 1,699 passengers. Word was just getting out and we’re sure people still hadn’t figured out the differences between Swift and Route 101 or Everett Transit Route 9.

That changed right away, as January 2010 saw average weekday boardings climb to 2,367 passengers, a 39 percent increase!

Ridership continued to build all year and by October the average daily boardings were about 3,500 passengers. We had hoped to hit 2,500 boardings after the first year, but instead are closer to our four-year goal of 4,000 daily passengers on Swift.

Of course, one would expect the route on which we run the most service to have the greatest ridership, but Swift is also one of our most productive local routes. Our local routes carry about 20 people per bus per hour. In October, Swift carried nearly 25 people per bus per hour, even with more buses running from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Where do people board Swift? While every station has seen good activity, solidly a quarter of all boardings in either direction originate at the terminals of Everett Station and Aurora Village in Shoreline. Northbound, 216th Street by Stevens Hospital, 200th Street near Edmonds Community College and 148th Street are the next most popular boarding stations. Southbound, Casino Road, Pacific Avenue near the county campus and Airport Road are the next highest boarding stations.

What are your Swift impressions? Has Swift changed your travel habits?

Celebrating Swift: One Year Later

2010-11-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Cold, clear mornings marked Swift's first week.

We’ll be posting special blogs in honor of Swift's one-year anniversary this week:

Monday: Looking back at Swift’s first week
Tuesday: Swift ridership
Wednesday: Swift Ambassadors
Thursday: Swift by the numbers
Friday: The future of Swift

Community Transit launched Swift one year ago today. We were very serious about making Washington State’s first bus rapid transit line work for our customers, but we also wanted to celebrate the culmination of an intense year of station construction and service preparations.

Swift started with a party and a dance on Nov. 29. About 800 people attended the event at the corner of Highway 99 and 196th Street in Lynnwood. Many took their first ride on Swift (Seattle Transit Blog) that evening.

The official first day of Swift service was Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. Dozens of Community Transit employees were out at Swift stations before 5 that morning ready to help passengers. We wanted to make sure people understood how to ride this new service, and we wanted to be there to help with the inevitable bugs of a new system.

New ticket machines (that don’t take $1 bills as eagerly as vending machines)
New bus dispatch process to keep buses evenly spaced 10 minutes apart over a 17-mile route
New Swift drivers pulling up close to the curb at exacting boarding locations (I watched a bus get hung up on a corner at Everett Station {which was so new, we hadn't had time to practice}, but managers patiently helped get the driver unstuck)
New interior bike racks (my bike did keel over one morning, and the Swift driver and I both went over to study what had gone wrong. Conclusion: make sure your front tire is centered under the wheel of the rack.)
New reasons to use an ORCA regional fare card for faster boarding and transfer credit

After a few days, riders, drivers and staff all knew what they were doing. Workers still hung out at the stations in our Swift scarves, but the biggest question became “where can I buy one of those?”

Sorry, they are still not for sale.

But rides on this great service are just $1.75 for adults. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?

Swift Outreach: A Look Back

2010-11-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

By Sue Masel
Community Transit Outreach

Were you one of those people who rode Swift during our first week of service one year ago? If so, you probably met members of our Swift street team in person. If you didn’t get to ride that week, maybe you saw all those people bundled up in their blue and green scarves at the new Swift stations on one of the coldest weeks in years. Swift Street Team members were there to introduce the new system and help make sure everyone’s first ride was as easy and fun as possible.

Two months prior to the launch of Washington’s first bus rapid transit system, we began planning the largest on-the-street effort in Community Transit history. Coordinating 170 people at 26 different stations and onboard buses over a 17 mile corridor from 5 a.m. to midnight was a daunting task. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but we wanted it to be a great success…and it was.

Swift Station outreach staff.

Over 100 Community Transit employees, including a few of our Board of Directors and Citizens Advisory Committee members, took shifts at Swift stations, along with 26 people from the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce and two from Senior Services of Snohomish County. Despite the great support from Community Transit staff, we were still short on people so we enlisted help from 28 temporary employees to join us in our street team effort. These temps quickly integrated themselves into the Community Transit family and became some of our finest ambassadors, with many of them even riding Swift to work for their shifts.

Our successful Street Team effort was a great way to introduce Swift to Snohomish County.

Street Teams by the Numbers

9 separate 2-hour training classes for station outreach staff
12 station managers
170 street team members worked 317 shifts
10 degrees and below – the temperature during our three to four hour shifts

Thank you to everyone for helping to make our Swift Street Team effort a huge success.

Bus Plus Survey: Seattle and Real-Time Schedules

2010-11-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of November, Community Transit received more than 1,000 responses to our survey about bus route information. This information will be used to help improve our rider materials and the way we communicate with our customers. Many people added additional questions or comments. I responded to some in an earlier post.

Bus stop posters in Seattle: One person asked why we took the schedule information off the bus stop at Terrace & 5th. King County Metro Transit prints and posts our information at stops in King County, and we weren’t aware that several of the Community Transit route schedules no longer appear at that stop. So, thanks for mentioning that (we’re working with Metro to get it fixed). If you ever notice a missing schedule poster or other problem at a bus stop, please notify our Customer Information staff and provide the location and stop ID number (on the pole and schedule).

Another person asked why some of the Seattle stop posters list times from stops several blocks earlier in the trip. Again, we send Metro our schedule information and they post it. Community Transit has a practice of posting the estimated arrival times at stops in between our designated timepoints. But Metro’s practice is to list only the official timepoints on stop posters - the same select stops listed in Bus Plus books and on bus driver schedule instructions. So that’s what you get in downtown Seattle.

You can use the “Find Next Bus” feature of our Trip Planner to find the next four estimated arrival times for any stop in King, Pierce or Snohomish counties. Just be aware that the times are estimates, and buses may arrive early.

Or late. Real-time bus information was the most requested feature in all the survey comments. As someone who experienced an afternoon commute home from Seattle last week (one of the days when we used our electronic alerts to warn “I-5 Accident Causing Delays”), I personally understand the demand for knowing when your bus is actually going to show up. The short answer is “We’re working on it.”

Planning and IT staff just returned from a week-long test of our real-time technology, and many issues remain to be resolved in the coming year.

When we’re done, we will feed real-time data to the public via the Web, mobile devices and by telephone (when you call in a stop number). We will have real-time signs at Ash Way Park & Ride, Lynnwood Transit Center, Mountlake Terrace Transit Center and at every Swift Station. Another part of the project is electronic signs on board every bus that will list the next stop as the bus approaches, and audio call-outs of stop names and important landmarks.

In the meantime, the information we have to convey to customers can be limited. Riders often know a bus is late before we do, and our Customer Information and Communications staff often won’t know precisely why or when it will arrive. We are committed to communicating with riders when there are system-wide delays or major reroutes. We also put in special effort when winter weather impacts our service – and I don’t mean rain!

Buy Local for Transit Kickoff

2010-11-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

This morning at the Alderwood Mall, Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor was joined by Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and business owners to kickoff the Buy Local for Transit program.

Flanked by the Santa display in the back and Made in Washington store on the side, it was a great beginning to what will hopefully be a long-term effort to convince our riders and all county residents to keep their shopping dollars local. That alone can help our local economy, and help Community Transit.

Reardon made the point that this decade Snohomish County has been one of the fastest growing local economies in the nation. We have attracted new industries, and our housing market remains higher than the national average. It will be great if residents now respond to this call to action with their wallets!

To answer a question from the last post on this issue, in 2007 Community Transit collected about $76.5 million from sales taxes; in 2010 we're on track to collect about $62 million. Our forecast for 2011 is not much better as we expect to bring in just under $63 million.

Will Buy Local for Transit make a difference? We can't predict that, but we're hopeful. And if we didn't try we would not be doing the best for our customers.

Buy Local for Transit

2010-11-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Community Transit will kick off its Buy Local for Transit program to educate riders and the public about how the local economy impacts transit funding, and to involve them in turning things around.

A news conference will take place at 10 a.m. at Alderwood Mall to announce the program. Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor will be joined by Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and local business owners to tout the benefits of the program. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The concept is simple. Encouraging transit users and everyone else to do their shopping in Community Transit’s service district can bring more money to the agency. Community Transit’s primary source of funding is a 0.9 percent share of sales tax generated in the communities it serves (9 cents on a $10 purchase). It was the decline in sales tax revenue during the recession that led to the agency's service cut this past June.

Local businesses also benefit as this program drives more customers into their stores. Cities and the county will benefit from the increased taxes and activity this business creates in their jurisdictions.

Community Transit’s service district includes 19 cities and towns as well as much of unincorporated Snohomish County. Notably, it does not include Everett, which has its own transit agency.

While shopping at any store or restaurant in the service district will help Community Transit, a number of businesses will partner with the agency by offering special discounts to Buy Local for Transit customers. A list of those businesses and their offers will be available online. To get the discount, shoppers will need to show either an ORCA regional fare card or an “I Buy Local for Transit” card that can be downloaded at www.communitytransit.org/BuyLocal.

At the news conference on Thursday, 100 I Buy Local for Transit cards will be handed out. The more people who get these cards, the more likely they will be to seek out BLT discounts and shop locally.

Also, Buy Local for Transit offers one of the first non-transit benefits for ORCA card users. Just show your ORCA card at a participating business and you can get a discount that others can’t. If you ride transit and don’t yet have an ORCA card (which saves you money on transfers), here’s one more reason to get your card now!

If you know of a business that would be interested in participating, refer them to www.communitytransit.org/BuyLocal to sign up.

Bus Plus Survey: The Good News

2010-11-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Community Transit has a robust list of bus riders and others who subscribe to our electronic alerts system. A week ago Wednesday we sent an email to 5,000 bus route subscribers asking them to take a survey on our schedule and route information. Many thanks to the more than 1,000 people who took the survey. I will try to respond to some of the comments and questions about bus information in a series of posts here.

The comments about route connections and schedule timing will go to our Planning Department, though anyone who asked for additional service might do well to read about our budget challenges. For those concerned about crowded buses, please read my blog post – and contact riders@commtrans.org if it’s a recurring problem. We are looking forward to putting our Double Tall buses into service next year, since they have more seats than articulated buses, thus increasing passenger capacity without increasing operating costs.

This post is going to focus on the good news – things people asked for that we already provide in some way.

List all bus stops: Community Transit buses serve about 1,800 stops in Snohomish and King counties. We list every bus stop by route on our website, and it’s among our most popular pages. We show all the stops in order in one direction, then the other. There’s a link to this page from each individual route schedule on the website as well. From the stop list you can pull up the actual schedule poster that is posted at that stop (provided it is a Community Transit stop vs. King County or Everett). That is a very cool feature if you use the same stop every day and want to know the estimated departures of all the buses that stop there.

When we upgraded our Bus Plus maps a few years ago we considered whether we could show every bus stop on the route maps. We realized that the maps just weren’t detailed enough, and the stops too many, to show effectively. We do have detail maps in Bus Plus (and on the web) of downtown Seattle, University of Washington and the Everett Boeing plant where we show all stops.

Individual Schedules: Rather than print these ourselves, we make a PDF of every route schedule and map available on our website. Just go to the "Schedules" page and sort by route, or go to an individual route’s schedule page. Printing individual schedules for our buses or outlets would require an entirely new display and distribution system for Community Transit. Our buses operate on a variety of routes each day, so it would be hard to have the right schedule on the right bus. Plus, we know that many people use multiple routes and appreciate having our comprehensive book.

A final note: We are very aware that we conducted this survey primarily online, though we did also get more than 130 paper surveys completed in-person by local bus riders this past week. We are NOT considering the end of printing Bus Plus – even our online audience uses Bus Plus at least as often as our website. Both sources are important to different customers, at different times and for different types of information.

New Swift Stations Coming Soon

2010-11-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Riders of the Swift bus rapid transit line, as well as drivers on Highway 99 in Snohomish County, are aware that four new Swift stations are under construction.

The four stations in Everett were in the original route plan but were not built because of cost considerations. Now, the City of Everett has received a state regional mobility grant to fund the four stations.

The stations are located on Evergreen Way southbound at Pecks Drive, Evergreen Way northbound at Madison Street, and Highway 99 at 112th Street southbound and northbound.

Ground work on these stations began in late September and the structure of the Madison Street station is going up this week. Steel on the two 112th Street stations will likely go up in the next couple weeks, with the Pecks Drive station coming last.

Crews worked with nearby businesses on the construction schedule. At Pecks, the Value Village asked that the sidewalk not be torn up until after Halloween as that is the busy time for that store. Similarly, the Albertson’s at Madison asked that work be done by Thanksgiving time as they sell Christmas trees in that southwest corner of their parking lot.

Once the structural work on the stations is complete, there is still electrical and communications work to be done. Swift stations each have two cash- and credit card-taking ticket vending machines and two ORCA card readers for quick, off-board fare payment.

The plan is to open the two northbound stations as they’re completed, likely before the end of the year. The southbound stations will be opened later, likely by mid-February. This directional pairing is being done to complete and commission the technological components. The new stations will give riders more stop options and provide more access to the fast and frequent rides on Swift.

All of this news comes at a great time because the one year anniversary of Swift is Nov. 30.

It’s hard to believe that this BRT line has been in existence just one year. By February of this year, Swift became Community Transit’s highest ridership route. The agency’s projection for its first year was a 25 percent increase in ridership from Day One. From 1,500 riders on Nov. 30, 2009, Swift has seen a better than 100 percent jump in ridership as October 2010 saw an average of about 3,500 riders each weekday!

The week of Nov. 29, this blog will feature daily stories about the state’s first bus rapid transit line, commemorating Swift’s first anniversary. Look for new statistics, a look back at the award-winning Swift launch celebration, and previews of what’s to come for BRT in Snohomish County.

We invite your thoughts on Swift as well…

On Sitting, Standing and Sharing

2010-11-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

After my post on improved commuter route productivity – due to fewer buses (and seats) to Seattle and more efficient routing – we received a question about crowded buses at Lynnwood Transit Center around 7 in the morning. Some 40-foot buses are packed, while some larger buses leaving at different times seem only partly full.

Articulated buses are assigned to the trips that have the most passengers most often. That may be hard to judge from the curb – and can be a close call for transit planners as well. A Community Transit planner – who helps identify what size of bus gets assigned to what trip – explains how a similar number of passengers can look very different:

“The seating capacity of a 40-foot bus is roughly 39 people and the seating capacity of a 60-foot articulated bus is 65 people. That means a standing room only load on a 40-footer would only be 60 percent full on an articulated bus. To some observers, a 60 percent full bus could look like a bus that is only half full.”

Community Transit staff did analyze seating capacity and ridership prior to our June service changes, and our goal is for all passengers to have a seat, especially on longer trips (Lynnwood is a comparatively shorter run). As one of the commenters noted, many people take different trips on different days, so ridership has peaks and valleys. That can result in crowded trips at times.

On paper we now have 40 percent more seats than riders at Lynnwood Transit Center, on average. We constantly monitor ridership and can adjust bus assignments. But usually, assigning an artic to a new trip means taking it off another run, so we don’t do that lightly.

This is a tight economy and we don’t have money for excess. That means commuters used to spreading out may need to share a seat – and even stand on rare occasions. If your bus is regularly overcrowded, please let us know.

On-Board Surveys Off to Processing

2010-10-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

A delivery truck full of surveys (maybe 10,000?) left Community Transit offices last Monday morning after the previous week's on-board survey effort to get information from the passengers on all our buses. We asked questions like "Where did you come from before you got on this bus?" "Why do you use public transit?" and "How did you pay for this bus trip?"

The completed surveys are now in the hands of a vendor which will spend the next two months entering and standardizing the data in electronic format. Their preliminary analysis will provide a wealth of information on bus transfers, what percentage of trips are to or from work, how many of our riders are unable to drive, and other basic rider demographic information.

The final report is due back to Community Transit by Dec. 13.

The data will then be available for further analysis by Community Transit staff. Service Planning and Strategic Planning are big users of the data, but our grants program, communications staff, transportation and others also use the data in many ways.

Survey Project Manager Brent Russell explained that while we do this every three to five years, this year’s survey has several firsts.

For the first time, the survey was developed completely in-house, without a consultant. Also, it’s the first time “origin” and “destination” data will be geo-coded. This will allow easy mapping and analysis of where people come from and go to on our buses.

About 37,000 copies of the survey were distributed on buses for completion on Oct. 20 and 23. Many were turned in on-board, and about 1,000 surveys came back in the mail. We are hoping for a 30 percent return rate when all are accounted for.

Many thanks to all the passengers who took the time to complete the surveys. Our last on-board survey was in 2006, and it will be very valuable to see what has changed or stayed the same since then.

Here are some tidbits from the 2006 survey:

The majority of Community Transit riders indicate they got to the bus by walking (57 percent), driving their car (24 percent) and/or riding a bus/train/ferry (11 percent).
Lynnwood was the most popular origin for bus trips. Twenty-one percent of riders started there.
Youth make up 18 percent of local bus riders based on fare payment. Nine percent of passengers on local buses pay the reduced fare for senior or disabled people.
On average, riders had been using the bus for six years. A quarter of all riders had been riding for more than 10 years.
More than half of all riders had completed some college or had a bachelor degree or the equivalent.
Nearly a quarter of all local bus riders had a total household income of less than $10,000.