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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Transportation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amid Pandemic Recovery, More Transit Service and Fare Restoration Coming to Puget Sound<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stephen Fesler-<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>June 18, 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>0<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>main region<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Share<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advertisement<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Several more transit agencies in Puget Sound are adding back more transit service and fares as the region recovers from the initial Covid-19 pandemic wave.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Among them are King County Metro, Sound Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Intercity Transit with service improvements, though still quite short of pre-Covid<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>levels. Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit will also be rolling out additional fare collection on buses.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Restoration of bus service on the way<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Metro is leading the way with the most consequential service restorations, starting as soon as June 22nd. This will culminate with 23 routes coming back<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>online, many of which are peak-hour express routes. This will mean on weekday 84 bus routes in the Metro network will be operating essentially their pre-Covid<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>service levels while 42 bus routes will be operating on reduced service levels. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Routes returning to service including the 21 Express, 74, 102, 111, 118, 119, 125, 208, 212, 217, 218, 221, 224, 226, 257, 301, 304, 311, 330, 773, 775,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>907, and 930. Some additional service will also be added back to the King County Water Taxi operating between Downtown Seattle and Vashon. On weekdays,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Metro plans to operate essentially full service with the exception of Routes 22, 47, 249, and 910–those routes will continue to be suspended.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Still, restoration of service does not mean that all service hours are coming back. According to Metro, weekday service will be at about <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>85% of pre-Covid levels (opens in a new tab)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> while Saturday and Sunday service will be at about 99% of prev-Covid levels. A total 87 routes in the Metro network will remain fully cut, though those<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>routes tend to be weekday peak-hour express services.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advertisement<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Metro has also announced two new route suspensions. These are limited to Route 63, an express bus between Northgate and Cherry Hill, and Route 628 running<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>between the Issaquah Highlands and North Bend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Community Transit has yet to detail exact service restorations for July 6th, but the agency did announce an increase to 75% of pre-Covid service levels.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The agency is currently operating at about 70% of pre-Covid service levels. Service restoration will be focused on the busiest routes first. Later in September,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>service will be further increased to 85% of pre-Covid levels and is expected to remain in place through the duration of 2021. July service restorations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>by route should be forthcoming later this month.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In Thurston County, Intercity Transit plans to begin scheduled bus service again, starting on June 21st. The agency had fully suspended scheduled bus service<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in mid-April, instead moving to a reservation-based system using small passenger vehicles. Buses will return normal routes but at reduced service levels<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with most running hourly from 8:30am to 8:30pm. Intercity Transit has also announced that the Yelm service, Route 94, will be at even lower frequencies,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>about every 2.5 hours. Passengers will still be able to reserve service outside of normal operating hours.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In Kitsap County, Kitsap Transit will bring back Route 81 on a modified schedule to provide service between Annapolis and the Port Orchard Ferry Dock,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>starting on June 22nd. The agency recently restored some service on Routes 333 and 338 as well some trips on the Bremerton-Seattle fast ferry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sound Transit also has a limited service restoration in mind. Saturday service on Route 550 between Seattle and Bellevue will be fully brought back to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>pre-Covid levels next week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fare collection returning around July<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All transit agencies began suspending fare collection after the Covid-19 pandemic began to hit the region in March. The practice was implemented to instill<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>rider confidence and protect bus operators from having to interact with passengers at the front of coaches. Most transit agencies barred passengers from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>entering through the front door on coaches unless there was an accessibility reason. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, many transit agencies have indicated that they will install physical barriers between bus operators and general aisle and passenger areas. Metro,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for instance, is coordinating installation of plexiglass barriers on more than 2,000 coaches that will allow for this type of physical separation. Community<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Transit also is providing all bus operators with high quality face masks and face shields, though physical barriers are still in a testing and design phase.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Three transit agencies have announced an intention to restore fare collection around July. In a press conference last week, Metro staff said <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this could happen later this month or in early July (opens in a new tab).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Community Transit and Sound Transit have been much more clear about their intentions to restore fare collection on July 1st for most services. The July<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1st target is a bit unique since it would be a mid-week operational change, falling on a Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Community Transit has stated that fare collection will apply to all bus routes as well as paratransit service. Earlier this month, Community Transit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>began collecting fare on Swift bus rapid transit lines since fare collection (opens in a new tab)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> is feasible off-board.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Across the Sound Transit network, fare payment on express buses will resume on July 1st where front-door boarding is safely implemented. The initial fare<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will be for adults will be a flat $3.25 regardless of in-county and multi-county trips. Routes that are not able to yet safely implement front-door boarding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will continue to be fare-free until they are brought up to appropriate health standards for bus operators and passengers. In May, Sound Transit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>began fare collection again on Link and Sounder rail services (opens in a new tab),<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>though at cheaper $1 and $2 introductory “recovery fares,” respectively.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As the pandemic recovery process evolves, transit riders should expect to see further service level and fare policy changes across the region in the weeks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and months ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>figure<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>05/F1B4E049-2AE9-44C7-9727-C8346EBF159C <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Puget Sound Transit Agencies Are Bringing Back Fares and Adding Service <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Puget Sound transit agencies are beginning to restore service and fare payment is returning on some services. Pierce Transit and Sound Transit have released<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>their initial recovery plans that will begin as soon as May 24th. Community Transit also plans join the other two transit agencies in implementing fare<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>collection, at least on the Swift … <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Continue reading Puget Sound Transit Agencies Are Bringing Back Fares and Adding Service<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Urbanist<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 1 Comment<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Open sharing dialog <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>figure end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We hope you loved this article. If so, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>please consider subscribing or donating.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Urbanist is a non-profit that depends on donations from readers like you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Related<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Puget Sound Transit Agencies Are Bringing Back Fares and Adding Service<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 19, 2020In “Civics & Culture”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Transit Cuts Are On The Way for Every Corner of Seattle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>March 20, 2020In “Link light rail”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Metro Planning 15% Service Cut This Fall, Fares Returning in July<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>June 11, 2020In “Transit”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advertisement<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Previous article<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s Make Bellevue a 15-Minute City<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Next article<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MLK County Labor Council Expels Seattle Police Guild as Contract Showdown Looms<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>6/5b94c396c9802-bpfull<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stephen Fesler<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stephen is an urban planner with a passion for promoting sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He advocates for smart policies, regulations, and implementation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>programs that enhance urban environments by committing to quality design, accommodating growth, providing a diversity of housing choices, and adequately<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>providing public services. Stephen primarily writes about land use and transportation issues.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RELATED ARTICLES<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MORE FROM AUTHOR<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Soft Opening for a Hard Won Trail<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Soft Opening for a Hard Won Trail<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Safe biking infrastructure still has a long way to go in Bellevue--but building it is worth it. 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