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!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Open Houses Begin Tonight
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.
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.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Study the Alternatives, Provide Public Input
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:
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
- Cut service by 20 percent
- Maintain geographic coverage throughout Snohomish County
- Preserve ridership
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
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Bike to Work Day Ditty
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.
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.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Transit Honored for Traffic Safety Contributions
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
High Fuel Prices Cost Transit, Too
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.
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.
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