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

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

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

Amazon Prime Video promo shot of CT Driver Tiffany Underwood

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

Filming of this segment took place in early June

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

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

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

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

In Their Own Words: I am an Essential Worker Who Depends on Public Transit

We read all the comments we receive on social media, email and phone calls. A month into #StayHomeStaySafe during this time of COVID-19, this comment caught our eye:

When we saw that, we reached out to Melanie. Here are her words:

"I have used Community Transit for the last three years; at first it was confusing and scary for this now almost 55-year-old.

Melanie Wentz

Thanks to your wonderful drivers, I now navigate five days a week (and sometimes more) successfully! I can even go to Puyallup and Tacoma on an enjoyable bus ride (seems like an adventure!) to visit family.

I work at Haggens in Lake Stevens and I'm a cashier. Your drivers are thoughtful and take good care of me-- without them I couldn't keep my job. I've worked for Haggens since 1997. It's like my second home. Without Community Transit, I wouldn't have my job.

Again, thank you for taking care of me during this time and during normal times. You are amazing!”
~ Melanie Wentz

Thank you, Melanie, for trusting us to get you to work.

Do you rely on public transit to get to your essential service job? Please share your experience by commenting below.

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.

Coronavirus Update: How we’re responding to COVID-19 concerns

By Laurel McJannet

Be it by bus, paratransit, or vanpool, Community Transit provides vital transportation services. We transport people within Snohomish County, as well as to and from locations in King County.

Understandably, you may be feeling anxious and concern about the safety of public transit as the news of COVID-19 novel coronavirus continues to be in the headlines, social media and the topic of conversation with family and friends. We take these concerns very seriously.

Staying Informed

Updates and news about COVID-19 is changing rapidly. We are evaluating the situation daily and follow guidance provided by local health authorities. Our goal is to apply best practices to keep our customers and employees healthy. If you have questions and concerns about coronavirus, we encourage you to contact the local health authorities:

• Snohomish Health District (public health district for Snohomish County)
• Washington State Department of Health (Washington state government)
• Call Center: 1-800-525-0127, then press #
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. government)

Backpacks charge in preparation
for nightly bus disinfection.

Updated cleaning procedures

Last week we updated our vehicle cleaning procedures to include nightly disinfecting of all high-touch areas in all our buses. We want to ensure clean surfaces each morning to assist our riders in having a safe journey to their destination. If you have any concerns or observe a bus or vehicle that needs attention, please alert a transit employee right away.

Communication

Providing a safe transit journey requires a partnership with our riders in helping to prevent the spread of illness. We have messages available on our buses and online:

·      We’ve placed posters from the Snohomish Health District aboard all buses and at transit centers to remind everyone how they can keep themselves and others healthy.

·      For updates and to check out our FAQs, please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.communitytransit.org/coronavirus.

·      Join us on Facebook for our Community Transit Live webcasts to ask questions. We will have our regularly scheduled webcast on Tuesday, March 10 at Noon (https://www.facebook.com/communitytransit/videos/1089224144751532/) We will also have a webcast every Tuesday in the month of March.

Postponing non-essential meetings

Based on the latest guidance from the Snohomish Health District, Community Transit is postponing in-person, non-essential events and meetings that are open to the general public, whether on- or off-site, until after March 31. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Our top priorities are to continue service to the public and to keep our employees healthy and safe. Thank you for partnering with us to help prevent the spread of illness. And, stay well!