Community Transit

Message From the CEO

By Joyce Eleanor, CEO

Community Transit is Snohomish County's public transportation provider. We not only provide bus service throughout the county and into King County, but we provide paratransit service, have one of the nation's largest vanpool fleets and offer commute trip reduction service to many local businesses. Here are some of the things we have been busy with lately:

Board Sends Maltby Annexation to Voters

The Community Transit Board of Directors has approved a plan to annex a 32-mile portion of the Cathcart/Clearview/Maltby area into Community Transit’s service district. Local voters will make the final decision this November.

Community Transit held three community meetings in the area in late July-early August. More than 300 people turned out at those events. Residents were largely positive about the idea of joining the Public Transportation Benefit Area and the possibility of receiving bus service in the neighborhood.

The area includes a stretch of Highway 9 south of Snohomish to the county line, as well as major east-west corridors Cathcart Way and Maltby Road. This area has grown tremendously the past decade and is expected to double in population growth over the next 20 years.

Board Approves Fare Change for All but Senior/Disabled Category

The Community Transit Board approved a fare change effective Oct. 1 to help offset rising operations costs, however it left senior/disabled fares unchanged.

DART paratransit and local bus fares will increase 25 cents per trip, commuter bus fares will increase 50 cents and longer commuter bus fares (from north Snohomish County) will increase 75 cents. Senior/disabled bus fares will remain the same. Vanpools fares will increase based on mileage and size of the vehicle.

High diesel fuel prices have forced the transit agency to spend an additional $2 million on fuel this year. In addition, sales tax revenues have fallen in 2008. The agency receives 70 percent of its revenues from sales taxes. As a result, CEO Joyce Eleanor has instructed each agency department to reduce spending by at least 10 percent this year to keep current levels of service on the road. The agency has also delayed the replacement of some buses to save money.

Vanpool Program Compiles Wait List as Ridership Grows

All 363 of Community Transit’s available vanpool vans are on the road, and 31 groups of commuters are on a wait list for more vans. This is the continuing impact of increased transit ridership as record numbers of local residents seek alternatives to high gas prices and traffic congestion.

In June, vanpool boardings were up 25 percent over the same month a year ago, while bus ridership was up 17 percent from June 2007 to June 2008. Across the transit system, including vanpools, buses and DART paratransit service, ridership so far in 2008 is up 12 percent compared to the first six months of 2007. Community Transit has seen record ridership each of the last three years.

Oxy Gene and Staff Spread the Word about Transit

Known as the “Defender of truth, justice and really clean air” to some, and as “the guy in blue tights” to others, Community Transit superhero Oxy Gene has been all around Snohomish County this summer spreading the word about transit. 

Oxy Gene and agency staff have been at Everett Aquasox baseball games as well as community events such as Snohomish Kla Ha Ya Days, Lake Stevens Aquafest, Mill Creek Festival and the Taste of Edmonds. Community Transit staff participated in four National Night Out events on Aug. 4 and five public meetings on the annexation and fare change proposals in July.

Oxy Gene will be at the Monroe Fair Days Parade on Aug. 23, then staff will be at the Evergreen State Fair for Senior Citizen’s Day to discuss alternatives to driving alone.