The Community Transit board is to be congratulated on its recent moves in attempting to either generate conversation on what can become policy, or experimentation.
They have established new schedules for buses out of Everett Station for some routes. This is a good move and should make transportation available to many people who at this time do not ride buses. The schedules of 7 to 10 minutes for bus routes is a great improvement over the “sometime soon” schedules.
As a next step, Community Transit should offer free bus service. A public transportation system will never pay for itself, or private business promoters would operate the systems for profit. Free service is as necessary as bridges and ferries.
We beat the drums for not using automobiles for commuting, so a system providing an alternative to driving is necessary. Free bus service will come closer to competing with the Americans’ love for their personal automobile and the mandatory daily ride to work. We probably cannot eliminate congestion, but we can reduce it if we get serious about an alternative.
I realize that existing budgets and resources cannot at this time operate a free bus service, but if planning begins now, we can have thousands of commuters out of their automobiles and into buses within five years.
Again, congratulations to Community Transit for these moves, which I hope are not experiments, but solid commitments toward more commuters becoming relaxed and happier bus riders all across our increasingly busier thoroughfares.
GRADY SEWELL
Mukilteo
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