CT again runs on Sundays

By Steve Powell

Herald Writer

EVERETT — For two years, Community Transit hasn’t been able to offer Sunday or holiday service.

That will end Feb. 3, 2002, thanks to the legislature and Snohomish County voters.

About 4,300 people were being served on Sundays and holidays in 1999 when CT axed the service because Initiative 695 led to a reduction in transit money.

But the state legislature last year approved a new taxing authority for transit agencies. And, in September, local voters gave the OK for CT to expand service with an additional 0.3 percent sales tax, which starts Jan. 1.

"That shows how much we value public transportation," said Tom Pearce, public information coordinator for CT.

With those new funds, CT will hire 29 new workers, including 22 drivers.

"The past two years have been difficult, but we are thrilled to be able to bring back Sunday and holiday service and hire new employees at a time when this area’s economy needs new jobs," said Joyce Olson, CT’s executive director.

"We’re kind of happy about that," Pearce added.

Saturday service was restored in September 2001, thanks to one-time funding of $6.9 million from the legislature. Service ran at about 87 percent of what it was before the cuts.

Pearce said Sunday and holiday service will be similar to Saturday service "with a few little tweaks to it."

The CT spokesman said having no Sunday service caused some people some problems.

"People couldn’t get to work," he said.

To try to pick up the slack, CT gave used vans and buses to community groups so they could try to fill the gaps. But they could not provide as much service as CT had.

CT’s board of directors approved a $63.3 million budget for 2002, 8 percent more than this year.

"The staff developed a very prudent budget, considering that 66 percent of our funding comes from sales tax revenue, and we are experiencing an economic downturn that could impact that funding," Pat Cordova, the board’s chairwoman, said in a news release.

CT operates 19 local bus routes, 33 commuter routes, Dial-A-Ride Transportation, carpool matching and a vanpool program that is the nation’s third-largest.

You can call Herald Writer Steve Powell at 425-339-3447

or send e-mail to powell@heraldnet.com.

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