"I'm Matt. And I Help People Use It."

Nearly 10 million passengers board a Community Transit vehicle each year. With a service area that spans over 1,300 square miles, these boardings take place in all kinds of environments, from bustling urban areas to sleepy suburbs to outlying rural routes. A lot of our passengers have never taken a bus before, or are intimidated to take the bus from one environment to another. We rely on the efforts of our hardworking Sales & Distribution team, where people like Matt help our passengers use it and ride with confidence.

After thirteen years of working in the transit industry, Matt joined our Sales & Distribution team as a Supervisor just over a year ago. He knew right away it would be a good fit, "When I worked for Everett Transit, Community Transit was one of our partners. Everyone there was always positive and I could tell it was a good place to be. If you're going to work, you might as well find a home. From the very beginning, everyone has been welcoming and supportive. The fact that you can have a real conversation with our CEO means a lot. It starts from the top down."

Our Sales & Distribution department is responsible for distributing route information to a network of over 225 outlets across Snohomish County. From colleges to grocery stores to libraries, this small team of eight is constantly on top of every rider alert and service change. All those time tables you see at bus stops are also managed by this team. A minor service change could mean swapping out materials at 550 bus stops, while major service changes could mean 1,200 stops and take two weeks.

Not all of Matt's team's work is behind the scenes. Sales & Distribution also staffs the RideStore in Lynnwood where they get the opportunity to directly impact our customers. From selling ORCA (One Regional Card for All) products to providing trip information, this team helps people navigate the world of public transportation. Matt says, "The availability of transit options can often turn an unwelcome burden into an exciting new experience. It's so satisfying to help somebody discover this entire new world available to them. The look of relief they have when they realize how easy it is is really rewarding."

One final way that Matt's team makes a difference is by reuniting our customers with their property. You would be surprised at what gets left on our buses! While it's common to find laptops, iPhones, purses and wallets, the RideStore also receives everything from bikes to yard tools. Every day items are either found on the bus or turned into the RideStore by helpful passengers. While the team receives well over 600 items each month, sadly only 25-30% of these are ever claimed. Any item determined to have value that is left unclaimed will eventually be surrendered to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. If you've misplaced your wallet, try checking here first!

At the end of the day, Matt and his team find real value in helping people use our services. "It all comes down to touching the lives of customers. Everyone has somewhere to go. How can we help them?" Thank you, Matt, for overseeing an awesome team that feels truly passionate about our customers. Because of your efforts, new riders are empowered to take advantage of our services and more experienced riders are encouraged to try new ways of getting to where they need to go.

A Day in the Life at the Lost and Found: Phones, Umbrellas, and a Bag O’Pot

Many people run to catch their bus, but some also dash off the bus to get where they need to go. In that bustle, they sometimes leave stuff behind. At Community Transit, we average about 650 lost and found items per month. That’s up to 8,000 items a year.

Most items left behind on our buses are what you’d expect to find: cell phones, travel umbrellas, prescription glasses, IDs. But, we also get stuff you’ve got to wonder how someone could forget: bicycles, laptops, dentures, even a playpen! 

When you operate public transit in a state where marijuana is legalized, it’s not surprising when a bag of pot appears in the daily drop off. 

In fact, our staff estimates that small amounts of marijuana make an appearance at the Lost and Found about four times per month.

So, what do we do with the pot?

According to Matt, Sales and Distribution Supervisor at the Lynnwood Transit Center RideStore, home to our Lost and Found, standard procedure is to call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies to come and retrieve it. We don’t want to be in possession of lost drugs or weapons.

“In most instances, what we receive is a small amount,” said Matt. “If it happens that the person who left their item on the bus shows up to claim it before the sheriffs arrive, we release the item to the person (after they properly identify it).”

If the sheriff arrives before the owner and takes possession of the marijuana, a tag marked with the case number and sheriff’s office contact info is attached to the container the marijuana was in so the owner can take steps to retrieve the item. When a claimant is told they need to go to the sheriff’s office to get their weed, “we usually get a very calm response,” said Matt.

Reunited And It Feel So Good

For just about every lost item is an owner eager for its return. About 35 percent of items in the Lost and Found are reunited with their owners. If you’ve left an item on one of our buses, here’s what you should know to get your item back:

• If you left your item on a Community Transit or Snohomish County Sound Transit bus, contact the RideStore to see if your item has been found. Call (425) 348-2350 or email ridestore@commtrans.org
• Lost and found items can be picked up at the RideStore the next business day after 12:00 p.m.
• When you call, be prepared to identify your item (color, stickers, brand name, etc.).
• If you lost an item at Everett Station, check with the station’s Customer Service Center.
• If you lost an item on the Sounder Train, call (888) 889-6398. Select the “Sounder” option and then select “Lost & Found.”

Clockwise left: 30 crates organize found items; bulkier found items take up

the other side of lost and found; a gas-powered pruner was left behind; 

staff examine and log items in all bags that come in; an average dropoff

of found items from a weekend.

Time’s a Tickin’ When Things Go Missin’

If an item has a phone number, we do our best to contact the owner. Otherwise, we wait for a call. Wallets, purses and medications are always given special consideration for quick return to the owner. Other items fall under these hold criteria:

• Lost items are held in Lost in Found for 14 days, then they are destroyed or donated.
• Bikes are held offsite for a total of 10 days before being turned over to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Property Room. When claiming a bike, you’ll need to set-up a time for pick-up. Appointments are available weekdays between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. by calling (425) 348-2350.

“At the end of the day, we prefer to reunite people with their property,” said Matt.

To that end, our RideStore staff has two pieces of advice for our riders:

1. Check your seat before getting off the bus and make sure you have all your belongings.
2. If you think you’ve lost something on one of our buses, give us a call!