Agency Proposes to Increase Service 12 Percent

Comment sought for Fall 2018/Spring 2019 service expansion, fare change plan

Snohomish County, Wash. – Community Transit proposes to invest $12 million in new bus service in the next year. The proposal would restore 10-minute weekday service to the Swift Blue Line this fall and launch the new Swift Green Line between Bothell and Paine Field next spring.

The agency is also proposing a 25-cent fare increase for local bus, DART paratransit and vanpool service, and a simplification of its commuter fares effective this fall.

Public comment on these proposals is being accepted through April 6 by mail, telephone, email and social media. A public hearing is scheduled for April 5.

Service Expansion Proposal

Continuing its commitment to expand service following a 2015 voter-approved transit expansion measure, Community Transit proposes to increase service by 12 percent, or 49,000 annual service hours, in fall 2018 and spring 2019. This expansion is projected to increase bus ridership by 750,000 trips in its first year and up to 1.8 million trips, or a 20 percent increase, by 2023.

The bulk of the service increase will be the launch of the Swift Green Line, Snohomish County’s second bus rapid transit line, in spring 2019. Other changes would improve access to existing routes, add more commuter trips and improve transit connections.

Fall 2018 changes

Swift Blue Line (Everett-Shoreline)

Community Transit proposes to restore weekday service on the Swift Blue Line to every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. M-F. During the recession, the agency reduced service to every 12 minutes during those hours. Buses would continue to run every 20 minutes early mornings, nights and weekends.

The proposal would also add an early morning weekday trip in each direction starting at approximately 4:20 a.m.

Route 109 (Ash Way-Lake Stevens)

The proposal would reroute Route 109 buses off of Hwy 9 in Lake Stevens and onto 20th Street and 99th Avenue.

This routing change would serve more residents and businesses in this fast-growing area and improve on-time performance.

Route 196 (Edmonds-Ash Way)

The proposal would reroute Route 196 off 196th Street in Lynnwood between 44th and 48th avenues to serve the Lynnwood Transit Center.

This change would greatly improve transit connections and provide more local bus service to the transit center.

Route 413 (Lynnwood-Seattle)

The agency proposes to add 13 total midday and later evening trips to provide a greater span of commuter service to and from Seattle. These trips include four southbound late-morning trips to Seattle and nine early afternoon and later evening northbound trips to Snohomish County.

The change would provide more flexibility to Seattle commuters and encourage people to use the under-utilized Swamp Creek Park & Ride in north Lynnwood.

This change would also provide a 2nd Avenue option for midday Seattle commuters.

Spring 2019 changes

Swift Green Line (Bothell-Paine Field)

The Swift Green Line is proposed to launch in spring 2019, providing 10-minute weekday service and 20-minute night and weekend service between the Canyon Park Park & Ride in Bothell and the Seaway Transit Center near Boeing-Everett.

The Swift Green Line will intersect with the Swift Blue Line at Highway 99 and Airport Road, creating a high-frequency, high-capacity transit network.

With the Swift Green Line, 45 percent more Snohomish County residents will have easy access to 10-minute bus service.

More information about the Swift Green Line is available at www.communitytransit.org/SwiftGreen.

Route 107 (Lynnwood Transit Center-Boeing)

Route 107 is proposed to have new stops added along the Mukilteo Speedway and 84th Street, serving local businesses and the Future of Flight Museum.

One new round-trip will be added to Route 107 (time TBD).

Routes 107, 227 & 247 (Boeing)

One new round-trip would be added to Routes 227 & 247 and trip times moved earlier to meet new Boeing shift times and allow for transfers.

Routes 107, 227, 247, 271 & 280 (Boeing)

When the Swift Green Line opens, routes serving Boeing are proposed to be modified to serve the Seaway Transit Center rather than the Boeing-Everett plant. Transfers to Everett Transit, Swift Green Line or private shuttles would get riders to their final destination.

Fare Change Proposal

Community Transit is proposing its first fare increase since 2014. These changes would take effect Oct. 1, 2018.

The agency proposes a 25-cent increase for local bus and DART paratransit fares:

• Adult - $2.50, Youth - $1.75 and Reduced fare - $1.25.
  
• The proposal would also simplify commuter fares for routes to Seattle/UW, designating one fare for all commuter routes:
  
• Adult - $4.25, Youth - $3 and Reduced fare - $2.
  
• Vanpool rates would be increased an average of 3 percent, or about $14/month, based on size of van and length of trip.

Fare Policy Change

A new fare policy will also take effect Oct. 1 that charges commuter fares for all riders of commuter routes (400 & 800 routes), regardless of where they board or de-board. This policy was adopted by the Community Transit Board of Directors last fall.

Pilot Vanpool service

Community Transit will be launching a pilot Vanpool service aimed at serving commuters with “first-mile, last-mile” challenges.

The pilot Vanpool service would have a flat rate to be shared among the riders in the van.

This service would:

• Provide a van for first-mile connections from home to a transit center/ferry terminal, or last-mile connections from a transit center/ferry terminal to work.
  
• The proposed fare is $175/month.
  
• There is a five rider minimum per van.
  
• There is a 20-mile daily round-trip limit.
  
• Vehicle insurance and maintenance, as well as a gas card is provided.
• Because this pilot program establishes a new fare, public comment is requested.

Public Comment

Public comment on the service expansion, fare change and pilot vanpool service proposals is welcome through April 6.

A public hearing is scheduled at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 5 at the regular Board of Directors meeting at 7100 Hardeson Road in Everett, accessible by Community Transit Route 105 and Everett Transit Route 8.

Public comment can be sent to:

• 7100 Hardeson Road, Everett, WA 98203
  
• 2018changes@commtrans.org
  
• (425) 353-RIDE (7433), (800) 562-1375 or TTY Relay: 711
  
• Facebook: facebook.com/communitytransit
  
• Twitter: @MyCommTrans

More information on these proposals is available at www.communitytransit.org/proposal [link archived].

Community Transit is responsible for providing bus and paratransit service, vanpool and alternative commute options in Snohomish County. The agency is building a network of Swift bus rapid transit lines with Swift Blue Line along Highway 99 and the Swift Green Line between Canyon Park/Bothell and Boeing/Paine Field coming in 2019.