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Board Approves 2018 Budget Focused on Service Expansion
The Community
Transit Board of Directors yesterday approved the agency’s 2018 budget, with operating
expenses of $142 million and capital expenses of $59.5 million.
The budget projects
a 3.5 percent increase in service next year while preparing for a major service
increase in early 2019 when the Swift
Green Line opens.
Funding
will go toward:
- New
bus service, more buses, and more employees to drive and maintain those
buses.
- Construction
of 34 Swift Green Line stations
and three road improvements projects.
- Completion
of the Seaway Transit Center and 128th Street widening project.
- Purchase
and delivery of 32 new buses, including six Double Talls, 84 vanpool vans
(54 replacement, 30 expansion) and 15 DART paratransit
replacement vehicles.
- Work
to upgrade the agency’s wireless communication system.
- $10
million set aside for future base expansion to meet service growth needs.
 Agency to Expand Police Unit as Service Grows
The
2018 budget also includes first-year funding for a new three-year contract with the Snohomish County
Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) for transit safety and protection services.
From 2018 through 2020, the
agency’s Transit Police Unit will add seven deputies, increasing the unit to 20
members. Transit police are regular SCSO deputies who patrol Community Transit
buses and facilities, and respond to calls when needed.
“Our customers and
employees deserve to feel safe and secure on our service and in our
facilities,” said Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath.
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 Stuff a Bus in Snohomish, Dec. 9-10
You can help stuff a 30-foot
Community Transit bus with holiday cheer while shopping this weekend. An extra
can of food, box of diapers or toy will make a big difference for a local
family in need.
A list of suggested items
will be available from Community Transit volunteers at the Snohomish Fred Meyer
at 2801 Bickford Avenue at these times:
· Saturday,
Dec. 9: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Santa Claus: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Sunday,
Dec. 10: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Oxy Gene: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Santa Claus: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The annual Stuff a Bus event
is a partnership between the Volunteers of America Western Washington, Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 1576, Fred Meyer, Everett Transit and Community Transit. In
2016, the donation drive collected more than 10,000 pounds of food and 2,200
toys. All donations went directly to local families during the holidays.
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 U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen to Co-Chair Congressional Bus Caucus
U.S.
Congressman Rick Larsen has been named co-chair of the newly formed
Bipartisan Congressional Bus Caucus. Larsen, a Democrat from Washington’s
2nd Congressional District in Northwest Washington, will co-chair the group
with Republican Congressman David Young from Iowa.
“As someone who uses public transportation every day, I
understand just how critical safe and reliable bus systems are for working
Americans,” said Larsen.
Larsen is a strong advocate for public transportation, and a longtime
transit rider. He served on the Community Transit Board of Directors when he
was a Snohomish County Councilman before being elected to Congress.
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Swift Construction Goes Live via Internet
Construction is well underway on all
three phases of the Swift Green Line
project – the 34 Swift stations,
widening of 128th Street at I-5 and the new Seaway Transit Center.
At various times, each of these projects
has impacts on neighboring residents and businesses, and traffic traveling
along the future Swift Green Line
corridor.
The public can now keep updated on the construction
projects through a monthly live webcast. Community
Transit Live debuted last night on
the agency’s website and Facebook page. For 30 minutes, Community Transit
Communications Manager Martin Munguia and Swift
Project Manager June DeVoll provided updates and took questions on construction
of the Green Line and the overall project.
Viewers can watch the monthly webcasts
at www.communitytransit.org/CTLive. You can also sign up to receive the weekly Swift construction newsletter.
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If you have any questions, please email TheRouteAhead@commtrans.org.
 Emmett Heath, CEO
Community Transit
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