Transit ridership patterns in Snohomish County during COVID-19

Across Snohomish County our agency tracks transit ridership in real time, allowing a view into how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted transit use. Two weeks into Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Healthy, Stay Home” proclamation, overall ridership on buses had decreased by approximately 70 percent.

Since April 1, ridership levels have remained steady at about 11,000 riders (29% of normal levels) each weekday, 7,500 (60% of normal levels) on Saturdays and 6,000 (67% of normal levels) on Sundays.

However, looking at our ridership levels map which compares February 2020 to April 2020, the decreases in ridership vary widely across our county. According to Roland Behee, Community Transit’s Director of Planning, the changes in ridership correspond to different ridership groups and the types of service available in each area.

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I asked Roland for some insights into the patterns we’re seeing in transit use during this unprecedented time.

What routes have seen the lowest change in ridership?

Our Swift Bus Rapid Transit and rural routes have maintained the highest percentage of ridership. Prior on-board surveys and socioeconomic analysis have found that rural routes serve areas with limited travel options that can be supportive of transit ridership. Swift service, on the other hand, runs through areas of higher population density with many popular destinations along the corridors. We also know that many Swift riders in the past have reported that many do not own cars, so it remains a very convenient travel mode with more frequent service than other routes.

What about ridership on routes that connect to our core, higher-frequency service?

With the service reductions, Community Transit has tried to maintain service coverage so individuals in all of our communities can still use transit to meet their essential needs. Moreover, many of these routes allow transfers to and from our Swift service, which remains at almost 10-minute frequencies and provides access to some of the County’s most popular areas.

And what about commuter-focused routes to King County?

Since the University of Washington closed and many downtown Seattle workers have been asked to work from home, these routes have seen the biggest difference compared to normal ridership levels. Even now, though, we know people need to travel to fulfill their essential roles and we’re seeing approximately 425 riders per day traveling on these routes. It’s important to remember that we are accommodating for physical distancing on our buses and providing options for riders may not have any other way to get to their employment, go food shopping, or pick up their children from childcare. Moving forward we’re looking at options for service to match ridership demand while always keeping the safety of our customers and drivers as our number one priority.

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Washington State’s phased reopening plan will likely result in incremental increases in transit use. Please subscribe to rider alerts or follow us on social media for updates about possible changes in service levels. For more information on our actions responding to COVID-19, please visit our dedicated page: Community Transit Coronavirus updates.

Snohomish County Food Resources

There are many people in our community that face challenges putting food on the table.

Food distribution centers and food banks aid individuals and families in preventing hunger by providing free food items to be prepared at home.

Washington Food Needs

·       1 in 5 children live in a household that struggles to put food on the table.

·       1 in 5 Washingtonians rely on their local food bank.

·       Washington is the 23^rd hungriest state in the nation.

Due to COVID-19, some people in our community may be visiting a food bank for the first time. During uncertain times, challenges preventing hunger can feel intensified. To help with this challenge we’ve gathered some community resources to help the fight against hunger:

If you or someone you know is in need of food, please contact Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition for information about the 21 food banks located within Snohomish County.

There are also many school district-related food distribution sites for students and anyone under the age of 18, at no cost, in Snohomish County. Those locations are listed here: Snohomish County School Districts are Offering Meals at no cost for Children at many locations.

The City of Everett and Snohomish County are leading a regional effort to recruit volunteers to assist at food banks and meal distribution sites throughout Everett and Snohomish County. If you are in the position to give back to your community and volunteer for a local food bank, please visit: https://everettwa.gov/formcenter/emergency-management-21/2020-volunteer-for-local-food-banks-and--326.

Community Transit has several bus routes that are within walking distance of food banks in Snohomish County. For a list and the bus routes to get to them, please visit: https://www.communitytransit.org/foodbanks.

Coronavirus Update: Staying Informed

Our ongoing commitment to providing a safe ride for both our customers and our employees is our top priority. In addition to our weekly cleaning practices, we continue to disinfect all buses daily using a backpack sprayer and spray down all hard surfaces with the disinfectant Virex II 256, specifically to address COVID-19.

We ask that all riders partner with us in preventing the spread of coronavirus by following this guidance:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol will do if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with unwashed hands to avoid transferring germs.
• Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces, like counters, light switches and doorknobs.
• Stay home when you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

This week, the Governor provided guidance to transportation agencies, asking for agencies to do everything possible to encourage space between people. 

As our ridership has declined, this has naturally allowed for more space between riders. We will continue to monitor ridership daily and are working to ensure, to the best of our ability, that we are able to provide the ongoing transportation service that our customers need. We remain committed to providing current service levels as long as we are able to do so.

Providing a safe transit journey requires a partnership with our riders. Please visit our webpage where we will post updates on how we're working with local agencies to keep our communities healthy. We are also providing links to local health authorities should you have questions or concerns about the coronavirus.

Please Subscribe to free electronic alerts by email and/or texts and Follow @MyCommTrans on Twitter. Visit our blog to learn more about how we are responding to coronavirus/COVID-19 concerns.

Our top priorities are to continue service to the public and to keep our employees healthy and safe. Thank you for your patience and partnering with us to help prevent the spread of illness.