Community Transit approves budget with more service

EVERETT — Community Transit approved its 2025 budget last week, with added service hours and reduced fares for some riders.

The 2025 budget totals $248.6 million in operating expenditures. The separate capital project budget is worth $205.6 million, for a total of more than $450 million.

The agency plans to increase its bus service by 15% in 2025. When including all its transportation modes — bus, Zip Shuttle, Dart paratransit and vanpool — the agency said it will be adding 116,000 more service hours next year. This includes about 64,000 more hours in bus service alone.

The board also approved lowering reduced fares to $1 for those who qualify. Those with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced fares.

“Transit needs to be an easy choice for people, so we’re focused on making it an effortless experience for everyone,” Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz said in a press release. “With dependable, affordable bus service– and more of it – people will be able to take advantage of regional improvements, like light rail, to get farther, faster, and to get around their own community with ease.”

Bus stop improvements and another $34.3 million to improving Blue Line, Green Line and Orange Line are also in the budget. Additionally, Community Transit has earmarked nearly $100 million for 29 zero-emission buses and associated infrastructure.

Its zero-emission program is an agency-wide goal geared at lowering its carbon footprint.

The agency plans to hire 12 new security officers and upgrade cameras at stations.

Community Transit has spent much of the past year adjusting its routes around the arrival of light rail in Snohomish County. Many of its Seattle-bound bus routes are gone, replaced with more localized service which has become a focal point of the transit agency’s long-term plans.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; X: @jordyhansen.