Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Monday directing staff to revise service reduction plans in September that will limit weekend bus service.

Pierce Transit currently operates 417,000 annual service hours. The revised service plan will reduce annual service hours to approximately 300,000, or a 28 percent reduction from current levels. The plan adopted last month reduced service to 275,000 annual service hours, or a 34 percent reduction from current levels.

Pierce Transit is implementing service reductions after voters rejected Proposition 1 in November, which would have restored access to essential services for seniors, the disabled, and people who rely on Pierce Transit by increasing the sales and use tax in Pierce County.

The agency has received $6.2 million in revenue through two Federal Transit Administration “State of Good Repair” grants and congressional approval of the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit. In addition, over the next decade, the agency will extend the useful life of buses from 14 years to 16 years and eliminate some planned improvements to its maintenance facilities, redirecting a total of $19.5 million from the Pierce Transit capital plan. These efforts combined will add $25.7 million for bus operations over 10 years.

“We have been working very hard for the last couple of months to find these savings,” said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith. “There is some risk in using these dollars for service today, but given the strong need for service in this community and the repeated desire of our board members to find a way to provide service on the weekend, we feel this is the right choice.”

Almost all Pierce Transit routes will be affected. The primary impacts of the proposed service reductions are:

WEEKDAYS
36 routes operating 1,250 daily trips
Limited service after 7 p.m.
Limited service during mid-day

SATURDAYS
24 routes operating 456 trips
No service after 7 p.m.
Limited service during mid-day

SUNDAYS
15 routes operating 244 trips
No service after 7 p.m.
Limited service during mid-day

OTHER
Elimination of holiday service.
Elimination of Route 62, which serves Northeast Tacoma.
No restoration of special service to events like the Puyallup Fair.
SHUTTLE paratransit service for eligible people with disabilities operates during the same days and times as bus service. As bus service is reduced or eliminated, SHUTTLE service will also be reduced or eliminated.

Detailed service reduction plan information will be available online in the coming days at piercetransit.org. A public hearing on implementation of the revised plan is scheduled to occur on May 13. Pierce Transit will host eight informational meetings for the public regarding the revised service reduction plan at locations around the Pierce Transit service area:

LAKEWOOD
Weds., March 6, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Pierce Transit Training Center (Rainier Room)
3720 96th Street SW, Lakewood
Served by Routes 48, 300

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON – TACOMA
Thurs., March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
William W. Phillip Hall (Jane Russell Commons)
1918 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
Served by Routes 1, 48, 53, ST 590 (Northbound), ST 594, ST Link light rail

NORTHEAST TACOMA
Weds., March 13, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Northeast Tacoma Police Substation
4731 Norpoint Way NE, Tacoma
Served by Route 62

PARKLAND / SPANAWAY
Mon., March 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library
13718 Pacific Avenue South, Tacoma
Served by Route 1

PUYALLUP
Thurs., March 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Puyallup Library (North Room)
324 South Meridian, Puyallup
Served by Routes 400, 402, 409

GIG HARBOR
Weds., March 20, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Gig Harbor Civic Center (Council Chambers)
3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor
Served by Route 100

PUYALLUP
Tues., March 26, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Puyallup Library (North Room)
324 South Meridian, Puyallup
Served by Routes 400, 402, 409