Long live the Double Talls

Community Transit purchases its buses with public funds, so when it comes time to surplus them after their transit life is over, they go to auction, typically with 200k+ miles on them. These buses are well maintained while transporting passengers throughout Snohomish County, but that’s not where their adventures end.

Recently, our oldest Double Tall buses (circa 2011) were sold at auction, and we asked readers what you would do with a Double Tall. Here’s the real-life career path five Double Talls are taking after Community Transit.

Two new owners are travel- and excursion-related. One is in Alaska and the other is here in the Puget Sound area. Both owners plan to share photos when they finish their makeovers in Spring 2024 and reintroduce them to the public. One is a cruise line, and the other is a sightseeing company. Stay tuned! We’re excited to bring these makeovers to you.

Another buyer purchased three of the five double-decker buses that went to auction in October, and they plan to refurbish and transform them for future enterprises (we hope to get more information).

With decades of surplus buses behind us, here’s a trivia question about past buyers of Community Transit buses.

Which of the following answers do you think is true?

• They stayed local, serving as shuttles at Paine Field and the Gorge at George.
• They took an international adventure to Ecuador.
• They transport whitewater rafting customers in Wisconsin and Wild Rivers guests in Irvine, California.
• They “went Hollywood,” serving on movie sets in Los Angeles.
• All of the above.

Community Transit plans to offer more surplus Double Tall buses for auction in 2024. Since they go fast, interested parties should keep an eye on our public surplus auctions webpage.

As for the quiz above, if you selected All of the above, you’re correct! You never know when you’re going to see or hop aboard a Community Transit coach exploring a second career. We hope this news brings a smile to your face as your favorite buses continue taking you and other riders where you want to go.