Pierce Transit
A compressed natural gas bus operated by Pierce Transit at Federal Way Transit Center
Founded1979
Commenced operationJanuary 1, 1980
Headquarters3701 96th Street Southwest
Lakewood, Washington
LocalePierce County, Washington
Service typeBus, vanpool, paratransit
Fleet249 buses
Daily ridership23,500 (weekdays, Q3 2023)[1]
Annual ridership5,562,500 (2022)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel, Compressed natural gas, Diesel–electric hybrid, Battery electric
Websitepiercetransit.org

Pierce Transit, officially the Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation, is an operator of public transit in Pierce County, Washington. It operates a variety of services, including fixed-route buses, dial-a-ride transportation, vanpool and ride-matching for carpools. The agency's service area covers the urbanized portions of Pierce County, part of the Seattle metropolitan area, and includes the city of Tacoma. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 5,562,500, or about 23,500 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

History

Public transportation in Pierce County historically focused on the city of Tacoma, which laid its first streetcar lines in 1888. The streetcars were phased out in the 1930s and replaced with citywide bus service, with the last line closing in 1938.[3] The operators of the streetcar and bus systems, Tacoma Transit Company, was acquired by the city government in 1961 for $750,000. Under city ownership, the system was funded by a $0.75 monthly household tax first levied in 1965.[4]

A public transportation benefit area (PTBA) was created in 1979 with the goal of establishing a countywide bus system. On November 6, 1979, voters in Tacoma approved a 0.3 percent sales tax to fund a new transit system, initially named the Pierce County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority, that would eventually expand to cover the county.[5] The Pierce County PBTA took over Tacoma Transit's routes on January 1, 1980, and over the following year annexed other systems throughout the county.[4] The takeover of Tacoma Transit was done on a temporary agreement while a final cost for the system was under negotiation.[6] The agency adopted its new name, "Pierce Transit", in June 1980; the name "Tahoma Transit" was favored by staff, while board members proposed "The Bus" and "GO".[7]

Pierce Transit began expanding outside of Tacoma on July 1, 1980, with new routes to Federal Way, Fife, Milton, Puyallup, Sumner, Fort Lewis, and McChord Air Force Base.[8] The Federal Way route was created through an agreement with Metro Transit, King County's system, to provide a seamless transfer to an existing express route to Downtown Seattle.[9] These new routes competed with an existing private operator, who filed a lawsuit to halt Pierce Transit's expansion after negotiations broke down.[10] Under threat of a potential injunction from the Pierce County Superior Court, a tentative agreement was reached between Pierce Transit and the operator, who would operate new routes under a contract with the agency.[11]

Pierce Transit began operating direct express bus service from Lakewood and Tacoma to Downtown Seattle on September 17, 1990.[12] The routes were later converted into Sound Transit Express routes, funded by the regional transit authority and operated by Pierce Transit, in 1999.[13] The agency opened its central bus hub at Tacoma Dome Station in 1997, where Sounder commuter rail and Tacoma Link light rail service began operating in 2000 and 2003, respectively.[14][15]

The passage of Initiative 695 in 1999 eliminated the use of motor vehicle excise tax, a funding source for local transit throughout the state, leading to service cuts at Pierce Transit despite it later being ruled unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court. In 2000, 14 percent of service was reduced and a fare increase was set to temporarily make up for revenue from the tax, which made up 38 percent of the agency's operating budget. Voters approved a 0.3 percent sales tax increase to fund transit service during a special election in February 2002,[16] preventing a planned cut in bus service of up to 45 percent, and up to 25 percent for paratransit.[17][18]

Funding crisis

In 2012, Pierce Transit argued that it was in an unsustainable state due to its reserves running out, and as a result, must cut service by 53% in order to become sustainable again. Pierce Transit argued that if taxes within its service area were increased by 0.3%, Pierce Transit would not have had to cut service, and instead could have improved service by 23%.[19] Opponents of the 0.3% tax increase in Pierce County (also known as Proposition 1) advertised a sales tax increase to 10.1% (the "highest on the West Coast"), but in reality that rate would have only applied to motor vehicles due to the state motor vehicle sales and use tax.[20] Most taxable goods and services would have been taxed at the rate of 9.8%. Pierce Transit proposed a similar increase in sales tax in 2011, which was eventually rejected by the public.[21] Proposition 1, proposed in the 2012 general election, has also been rejected by the public.[22]

In May 2012, the cities of Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Orting, and Sumner withdrew from the boundaries of Pierce Transit's service area, which shrunk to 292 square miles (760 km2).[23]

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pierce Transit laid off or furloughed 90 employees amid a projected revenue cut of $47 million due to low ridership and sales tax returns.[24]

Stream bus rapid transit

Pierce Transit plans to build a bus rapid transit system, named "Stream", on several existing corridors. The first line, the Community Line on Pacific Avenue between Tacoma and Spanaway, is planned to replace a 14.4-mile (23.2 km) section of Route 1.[25][26] The Pacific Avenue line is planned to have 32 total stations, including curb-side and median stations, and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) of dedicated bus lanes.[27] It was originally scheduled to begin construction in 2021 and open in 2024 at a cost of $95 million, with funds from Sound Transit 3 and the federal government.[25]

In August 2023, the board of commissioners voted to defer work on the bus rapid transit project due to its six-year delay and $150 million cost increase. In its place, Pierce Transit plans to improve Route 1 service on Pacific Avenue in 2024 with an "enhanced" express service that serves 14 stops and uses transit signal priority.[28] The agency has also studied several four additional routes for future expansion of the Stream bus rapid transit system to serve Lakewood, South Tacoma, and Puyallup.[29]

Administration

Pierce Transit is operated by nine-member Board of Commissioners composed of elected officials throughout the county. The agency is led by the chief executive officer, who is appointed by the board. Since 2021, this position has been held by Mike Griffus.[30][31] A staff of approximately 1,000 man the five departments, with over 50% working in Transit Operations.

Police

Pierce Transit contracts with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department for police services. There are currently 16 patrol deputies assigned full-time to Pierce Transit. The command staff of Pierce Transit Police include two Supervising Sergeants and the Transit Police Chief(provided by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department - under contract). The Pierce Transit system is also patrolled by 17 specially commissioned Peace Officers (Public Safety Officers).

Services

As of 2012, Pierce Transit served a 292-square-mile (760 km2) area with a population of approximately 557,000.[23] Areas served include Auburn, Edgewood, Federal Way, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Lakewood, Milton, Pacific, Purdy, Puyallup, Ruston, South Hill, Steilacoom, Tacoma and University Place.

In 2008, 19 million people utilized its services. 272 wheelchair-accessible buses circulate between 3,300 bus stops, 626 bus shelters and 28 park-and-ride lots. Additionally, Pierce Transit runs 11 transit centers and stations. Pierce Transit also provides vanpool, ridematching and express transportation between counties. Disabled passengers who are not able to use Pierce Transit's buses have access to a special transportation system called SHUTTLE.

The agency launched an on-demand ride-hail service, named "Runner", in 2020 to serve the Ruston Way corridor.[32] It was expended to Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Spanaway/Parkland, and the Port of Tacoma in 2021.[33]

Bus routes

Route # Route Name Notes Continues as
1 6th Ave–Pacific Ave
2 S 19th St–Bridgeport Way
3 Lakewood–Tacoma
4 Lakewood–South Hill
10 Pearl St
11 Point Defiance 41
13 N 30th St Monday–Friday only
16 North End 48
28 S 12th St
41 S 56th St–Salishan 11
42 McKinley Ave
45 Yakima
48 Sheridan–M St 16
52 Fircrest–TCC
53 University Place 55
54 38th St–Portland Ave
55 Tacoma Mall 53
57 Union–S 19th St–Hilltop
63 NE Tacoma Express Weekday, peak-hours only
100 Gig Harbor
102 Gig Harbor Express Weekday, peak-hours only

suspended due to COVID-19
202 72nd St 409
206 Pacific Hwy–Tillicum
212 Steilacoom 214
214 Washington 212
400 Puyallup–Downtown Tacoma Monday–Friday only
402 Meridian
409 Puyallup–72nd St TC 202
425 Puyallup Connector Monday–Saturday only
497 Lakeland Hills Express Weekday, peak-hours only
500 Federal Way
501 Milton–Federal Way

Fares

ServiceAdultYouth/Senior/Disabled
Local$2$1
Pierce Transit Local 24-Hour Pass$5$2.50
Pierce Transit Local Monthly Pass$72$36
Summer Youth Pass-$36 (Youth only)
  • Under 6 ride free with a fare-paying rider; limit is 3.
  • Passengers aged 6 to 18 pay youth fare.
  • Summer Youth Pass only valid on Pierce Transit from June to August.
  • Passengers 19 to 64 pay adult fare unless they have a valid regional reduced fare permit.

Fares last updated on: 3/1/2016 [34]

Facilities

Transit Centers

  • 512 Park and Ride
  • 72nd St Transit Center
  • 10th and Commerce (Downtown Tacoma)
  • Lakewood Transit Center
  • Lakewood Sounder Station
  • Parkland Transit Center
  • South Hill Mall Transit Center
  • Tacoma Dome Station
  • Tacoma Mall Transit Center
  • TCC Transit Center

Fleet

In 1986, Pierce Transit began experimenting with compressed natural gas as a fuel source for its bus fleet by modifying two existing buses, becoming the first agency in the nation to do so.[35] As of 2018, 118 of the 249 buses in the agency's fleet run on compressed natural gas. Other models are diesel–electric hybrids or use electric batteries.[36]

Bus

As of June 2020[37][38]
Manufacturer Model Year Fleet
Numbers		 Qty. Length Fuel Type Notes Image
Gillig Phantom 40' 1999 8018–8069 23 40 ft (12 m) Diesel
  • Reserve fleet
  • Acquired from Sound Transit
  • 8022, 8026–8027, 8030, 8036–8042, 8046–8054, 8058, 8060–8062, 8064–8065, 8067 retired
  • Some buses used on Sound Transit Express
Low Floor CNG (G27D102N4) 2015 251–260 10 CNG
2016 261–270 10
Low Floor CNG (G31D102N4) 2017 271–277 7
Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4) 2010 501–509 9 Hybrid Electric
2013 510–515 6
2014 516–521 6
Low Floor CNG (G31D102N4) 2018 10101–10123 23 CNG
2019 10124–10143 20
2021 10144-10170 27
2022 10171-10179 9
Low Floor Plus 2021 525–530 6 Battery electric [39]
Chance AH-28 Streetcar 2000 330–332 3 28 ft (8.5 m) Diesel
New Flyer C40LF 2002 167–184 18 40 ft (12 m) CNG
2004 185–204 20
2005 205–229 25
C40LFR 2007 230–239 10
2008 240–250 11
C30LF 2004 305–319 8 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Reserve fleet
  • 311–317 retired
311–317 7
Proterra Catalyst E2 2018 522–524 3 40 ft (12 m) Battery Electric

Shuttle/Bus Plus

MakeModelPurchasedRetiredQty.Fleet Numbers Fuel Type
Ford E450ElDorado Aerotech2004retired495001-5049
Ford E450ElDorado Aerotech2005305801-5809, 5050-5070
Ford E450?200655071-5075
Ford E450ElDorado Aerotech20075810-5819, 5076-5100
Ford E450 ElDorado Aerotech 2012 in service 38 5101-5138 Unleaded
2014 18 5149-5160, 5165-5170
2014 10 5139-5148 CNG
2016 30 5171-5200 Unleaded

Vanpool

MakeModelYearRetiredQty.Fleet Numbers
FordE3502002retired14116
2003244140, 4143, 4144, 4146-4148, 4151-4153, 4155, 4157, 4158, 4160, 4161, 4163-4165, 4167-4171, 4176, 4179
2006most retired677095-7161
E350XL2005retired487014-7061
2008partially retired237226-7248
2013 in service 19 7342-7360
E450 2005 2 5800, 5811
Transit Connect 2016 21 7404-7424
ChevroletAstro200Xretired124122, 4123, 4127, 4129-4136, 4139
Express Van2007567162-7217
2008mostly retired157218-7225, 7249-7255
2010in service667256-7321
2012 20 7322-7341
2014 28 7361-7366, 7373-7394
Express 3500 2016 60 7473-7532
2017-2018 62 7546-7607
DodgeGrand Caravan2005retired147000-7013
2015 in service 9 7395-7403
2017 13 7533-7545
Caravan 2018 8 7608-7615
2019 10 7625-7634
Chrysler Pacifica 2019 8 7616-7623

Ferry

Adjoining transit agencies

References

  1. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Malloy, Dick; Ott, John S. (1993). The Tacoma Public Utility Story: The First 100 Years, 1893–1993. Tacoma Public Utilities. OCLC 29528435.
  4. 1 2 Public Transportation Office (October 1984). "Local Transit" (PDF). Public Transportation in Washington State (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. pp. 105–106. OCLC 13007541. Retrieved September 10, 2016 – via National Transportation Library.
  5. ↑ Tucker, Rob (November 7, 1979). "Voters favor expanded transit". The News Tribune. p. A5. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Gillie, John (June 1, 1980). "Old bus system transfers to the future". The News Tribune. p. A3. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Gillie, John (June 3, 1980). "The winner, by a bus length, is 'Pierce Transit'". The News Tribune. p. A14. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Gillie, John (June 30, 1980). "County buses take to new routes tomorrow". The News Tribune. p. A5. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Gillie, John (July 27, 1980). "Take the express and leave the driving..." The News Tribune. p. A5. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Gillie, John (September 11, 1980). "Court may issue order to stop Pierce Transit buses". The News Tribune. p. A3. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Gillie, John (September 27, 1980). "Pierce Transit's last-minute contract staves off court injunction". The News Tribune. p. A2. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Shatzkin, Kate (September 17, 1990). "Commuters happy to let others do driving: Tacoma-to-Seattle bus has a successful start". The Seattle Times. p. D1. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ Whitely, Peyton (September 17, 1999). "Buses ready to roll". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  14. ↑ Kaiman, Beth (September 12, 2000). "Commuter rail service to begin; New trains will run between Tacoma and Seattle". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  15. ↑ Lindblom, Mike (August 23, 2003). "Sound Transit starts small with Tacoma Link system". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  16. ↑ Corvin, Aaron (February 6, 2002). "Pierce County voters approve sales-tax increase for transit agency". The News Tribune. p. 1.
  17. ↑ "Pierce Transit approves request for sales tax request on 2002 ballot". Tacoma Daily Index. December 5, 2001. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  18. ↑ Corvin, Aaron (January 28, 2002). "Future of Tacoma bus system riding on levy". The News Tribune. p. 1.
  19. ↑ "Prop One". www.piercetransit.org. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05.
  20. ↑ "Motor vehicle sales/Use tax | Washington Department of Revenue".
  21. ↑ Sherman, Kris (2011-01-23). "Crisis point for Pierce Transit". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10.
  22. ↑ "End of the Line: The Death of Pierce Transit's Prop 1 - Seattle - News - The Daily Weekly". blogs.seattleweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-18.
  23. 1 2 "Summer 2012 Report to the Community" (PDF). Pierce Transit. June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  24. ↑ Peterson, Josephine (May 13, 2020). "Pierce Transit furloughs, lays off employees amid revenue declines during coronavirus". The News Tribune. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Sailor, Craig (September 21, 2020). "Pierce County's newest transportation system has a name we can all get behind". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  26. ↑ Ruud, Candice (April 6, 2018). "Wave as they pass your car. Fast buses could be coming to a long stretch of Pacific Avenue". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  27. ↑ Sailor, Craig (April 10, 2019). "Pierce Transit board chooses middle-of-the-road solution for $150 million bus project". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  28. ↑ Sailor, Craig (August 16, 2024). "Pierce Transit puts troubled Bus Rapid Transit project on hold and turns to quicker fix". The News Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  29. ↑ "BRT Expansion Study". Pierce Transit. April 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  30. ↑ Peterson, Josephine (August 10, 2021). "Pierce Transit selects internal candidate to be the agency's new CEO". The News Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation". Archived from the original on 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  32. ↑ Francisco, Miriam (July 30, 2020). "People looking for a ride along Tacoma's waterfront will have a new option beginning Aug. 1". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  33. ↑ "PT Runner". Pierce Transit. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Fares > Pierce Transit".
  35. ↑ Wald, Matthew L. (April 7, 1989). "Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Move From Fancy to Fact". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  36. ↑ Cohen, Josh (October 11, 2018). "How an explosion in Canada threatened to stop buses in Pierce County". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Appendix D – Inventories". 2019-2024 Transit Development Plan (Report). Pierce Transit. 2019. pp. D1–D37. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Pierce Transit". Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Pierce Transit adds six electric buses into service". Mass Transit. December 2, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
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