Snohomish County, Wash. – Members of the public are invited to share comments about Community Transit’s proposed service and fare changes at a hearing starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 5 at the Board of Directors meeting at 7100 Hardeson Road in Everett, accessible by Community Transit Route 105 and Everett Transit Route 8.
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.
In its first proposed fare increase since 2014, the agency is also proposing a 25-cent fare increase for local bus and DART paratransit service and a 3-percent average increase in vanpool rates.
The hearing will last until each person present has had an opportunity to comment.
No decisions will be made immediately following the hearing. The Board of Directors is scheduled to decide on the changes in May. Details of the plan are available at www.communitytransit.org/Proposal [link archived].
Members of the public may also submit comments through April 6 by mail, telephone, email and social media:
Service Expansion Proposal
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)
Route 109 (Ash Way-Lake Stevens)
Route 196 (Edmonds-Ash Way)
Route 413 (Lynnwood-Seattle)
Spring 2019 changes
Swift Green Line (Bothell-Paine Field)
Route 107 (Lynnwood Transit Center-Boeing)
Routes 107, 227 & 247 (Boeing)
Routes 107, 227, 247, 271 & 280 (Boeing)
Fare Change Proposal
Community Transit is proposing its first fare increase since 2014. These changes would take effect Oct. 1, 2018.
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:
Because this pilot program establishes a new fare, public comment is requested.
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.
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.