People who want to ride public transportation from south Snohomish County to downtown Seattle or the University of Washington will have more options in February 2013.
Community Transit has received a $2.8 million federal grant which will add 30 commuter trips from south Snohomish County to those destinations.
The money will pay for the additional buses for three years, spokesman Martin Munguia said.
“The hope is that in three years the economy will grow enough so we can continue that service out of our own pocket,” he said.
The trips come after Community Transit drastically cut service over the past two years in response to declining sales-tax revenue. Much of that service was on local routes.
The new commuter trips will be distributed among several routes, both morning and afternoon, where there is currently the highest demand, according to Community Transit.
A final schedule will not be ready until early 2013, but the agency expects to add trips to Routes 402, 410, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 810, 855 and 860. These routes serve stops and park-and-ride lots from Mukilteo and south Everett to Mountlake Terrace.
Community Transit is tweaking other local routes for efficiency and in response to rider feedback. These changes won’t cost or save money for the agency, Munguia said.
Route 112 (Ash Way Park &Ride to the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center): These buses will be routed into the Lynnwood Transit Center from 44th Avenue W. along 194th, 48th, and 200th. This slight reroute will improve connections to local businesses, other buses and improve transfers, according to CT.
Route 417 (Mukilteo to downtown Seattle): These buses will no longer travel on 44th Avenue W., north of 196th Street in Lynnwood. Instead, buses will travel on Highway 525 from Mukilteo to I-5, then get off at 196th Street SW before serving the Lynnwood Transit Center. Northbound routing will be the reverse. This change will provide a peak-hour connection with Route 196.
Route 885 (Lynnwood to the UW): This route will be eliminated and replaced with trips on Route 880. The two routes currently serve much of the same corridor at different times, except that Route 880 does not serve the Lynnwood Transit Center. Riders wishing to travel between UW and the Lynnwood Transit Center can take Routes 810, 821 or 855.
For more information go to www.communitytransit.org.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
