Recent high fuel prices have caused many commuters in Snohomish County to think about using modes of transportation other than their cars and vans. Many residents have turned to Community Transit’s fleet of 317 vehicles to get them from home to work, or to events.

“Every month we’ve had a record,” said Mike Allende, staff writer with Community Transit. “It’s going up and up and the gas price is definitely a major part of it.”

In June, the most recent month with available numbers, every route saw an increase over June 2007. Overall, June boarding on every route was up 18.6 percent over one year prior.

The bus routes from Lynnwood Transit Center to Everett Station, and then on to Smokey Point, had an increase of 46.2 percent over the year before, carrying 2,663 riders every weekday.

Community Transit’s busiest route, from Aurora Village in Shoreline to Everett Station, saw an increase of 15.8 percent when 4,152 commuters used that route per day. The popularity of CT’s first double-decker bus has spurred plans to order 23 more of the efficient vehicles, due in the country by 2010 at the latest.

“We haven’t ordered any yet,” Allende said. “But we have approval for buying them as soon as bids have been received.

The Double Tall takes up less space at the CT facility, takes up less road space and carries more passengers. At 14 feet high and 40 feet long, the bus has 70 seats. Another 20 people can stand on the lower deck if all of the seats are taken.

“That’s almost twice the number of people in less road space,” said June DeVoll, manager of strategic planning for Community Transit.

“People love riding up top and seeing the view,” Allende said, adding that commuters have said that it is a smooth, comfortable ride. The first double-decker, in service since July 2007, has garnered many positive responses from riders. The Double Tall serves only longer range commuter routes.

Other projects in the works for Community Transit’s commuters involve the completion of the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center due to open in February 2009. The five-level building, which can be seen from I-5, will hold 660 vehicles and 230 more vehicles will be able to park in the facility’s former area.

“We are building up rather than out,” Allende said.

CT is also working on the SWIFT rapid transit line project that is set to begin in 2009, with high-speed service between Everett and Seattle.