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Commute Trip
Reduction News
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CTR Survey Opens Soon, We Need Your Base Info
It's CTR Survey time! Have you decided which week you will survey your employees? If not, you have until Sept. 18 to reply with your Base Information prior to the launch of the month-long survey period.
There is still much to learn about commute behaviors now and post-COVID in an effort to inform commute trip reduction programs in the future. With that in mind, we are following a WSDOT recommendation to move forward with a CTR Survey in the fall.
Unlike past CTR surveys, WSDOT created an online pilot survey using SurveyMonkey, a more accessible web-based platform. To begin the process, please fill out the Base Information Form, which will enable us to set up your survey with WSDOT.
If you haven't seen the CTR Survey Guide for Fall 2020 yet, HERE is a copy of the Guide.
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Community Transit joined six local partner agencies, transit agencies across the country, and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to commit to industry best practices for safe public transit in response to public concerns about riding transit during COVID-19 crisis.
The APTA Health & Safety Commitments Program supports four broad commitments:
- Following public health guidelines from official sources.
- Cleaning and disinfecting transit vehicles frequently, and requiring face coverings and other protections.
- Keeping passengers informed and empowered to choose the safest times and routes to ride.
- Putting health first by requiring riders and employees to avoid public transit if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel ill.
You can find the entire announcement on our News Page. For more info on Community Transit's Health & Safety Commitments, head here.
Area Agencies Announce Service Changes, Closures
Community Transit's service changes begin Sept. 20. Schedule changes that go into effect this month will last through March 2021. They reflect a service increase to 85 percent of pre-pandemic service levels. The weekday schedule will have about 80 more bus trips.
Some routes will see an increase in trips, and some routes will see a slight decrease in trips. Overall, the September service change will:
- Reduce waiting time on less frequent routes, - Add trips on routes that are seeing higher ridership at certain times of the day, and - Improve transfer connections.
For specific route change info, visit our News Page. Community Transit printed a limited supply of Bus Plus Books. If you need Bus Plus Books at your worksite, please contact your CTR Rep to coordinate delivery.
Two longer-term projects are expected to impact bus service this fall.
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The new Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal is expected to open in late 2020. When it does, routes serving the current ferry terminal will remain on the same schedule, but will stop at the new terminal location.
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The Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station is expected to reopen in late 2020. At that time, routes that previously served the transit center via the freeway station will once again serve this transit center.
Sound Transit
In response to increases in ridership, Sound Transit is planning to add service across its system for its fall service change, which takes place Sept. 19-21.
- Trains on Link light rail will run every eight minutes during peak hours on weekdays. - Trains will run every 15 minutes on weekends and off peak on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on evenings. - Sounder South will add two round trips to its weekday schedule and schedule adjustments will be made to a number of ST Express routes to better meet rider demand.
King County Metro
King County Metro's twice-yearly service change starts Sept. 19. Due to budget constraints, Metro will operate reduced service in certain areas.
Please visit their Quick Start Guide for new ways to travel within these expanded transit zones in Renton, Kent and Auburn.
Interurban and Scriber Creek Trail Closures Planned
As early as Monday, Sept. 14, Sound Transit's contractor will close the Interurban Trail near the Lynnwood Transit Center to begin work for the Lynnwood Link Extension. The Interurban Trail will be closed intermittently over the next two years, detours will be provided.
Scriber Creek trail (between the Interurban and 48th Ave. W.):
Mid-September 2020 – September 2022
Additional Interurban trail closures are scheduled, including:
Late October – 2 weeks December – intermittent short-term, closures March 2021 – 2 months May 2022 – 6 months
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We've all had to be flexible over the past eight months. One place we've seen a lot of flexibility, nimbleness and pivoting is with Bike Month, Bike to Work Day and Bike to Work Week. We've tried to keep up as event organizers have kept their creative gears turning.
Understanding that many employees are still teleworking, and Bike to Work Day is just about impossible, your CT CTR Team is still supporting your efforts to promote getting outdoors and staying healthy.
As the fall approaches and the number of sunny biking days start ticking down, Cascade Bicycle Club is making a final push with F5 Networks Bike Everywhere Week, an event shared with the League of American Bicyclists, scheduled for Sept. 21-27.
Here are some of the details:
- The F5 Networks Bike Everywhere Weekend! Sept. 26-27 get ready to celebrate Bike Everywhere Day for two days straight! In-person activities, giveaways, DIY activities.
- Cascade is also joining a week-long celebration of National Public Lands with their partners at Mountains to Sound Greenway.
- The theme for this year is trash! Pick it up and help keep our public lands healthy.
- If you'd like to create a work party or event on a public use trail by bike, please let them know and they will promote it.
- Cascade will be hosting virtual classes, seminars, and workshops about how to keep your bike rolling into fall. These include ask-a-mechanic sessions, and other fun programming.
For more information on the planned events throughout the week, visit the Cascade event page HERE.
We also created a Guide to Bike Everywhere 2020 that includes links to events and how-to's. Have questions on how create blended bike-transit trips for commuting or running errands, or simply how to find bike routes in Snohomish County? The Community Transit Bike and Buses page is chocked full of Bike Maps and handy tips.
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ETC Spotlight Caleb Johnson, Aviation Technical Services
What is your title with ATS? HR Assistant
How long have you been an ETC? About 10 months
Tell us about ATS. What services does the company provide? ATS provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) on aircraft here in Everett, Moses Lake, Dallas/Fort Worth and Kansas City. Our mechanics provide support for military, commercial and regional aircraft operators – including airframe maintenance, component repair, engineering support, fuselage painting, and business jet services. ATS is one of the largest suppliers of 737 airframe maintenance in the world; on average redelivering 450 aircraft per year for the last five years.
ATS has a robust Vanpool program. What are some tips for other CTR sites that may be wanting to build a vanpool program? There are a cluster of folks who all live in the same neighborhood, so the opportunity to all ride to work together is a great incentive on its own. The other incentive we use are vanpool vouchers. All direct ATS employee riders receive a $30 voucher once a month to help pay for the van.
What transportation option(s) do your employees use most? Right now, most of our employees drive themselves to work. We also offer carpool parking permits that give reserved parking spots to those who sign up for the benefit.
What has been your biggest challenge as an ETC? The main challenge has been coordinating programs around our company schedule. We are a 24/7 hangar that has shifts as early as 4 a.m. and as late as 11 p.m., so the ability to start new programs is extremely tough.
What advice can you give to other ETCs who may be having challenges implementing their program? My main job is onboarding new employees and making sure they have the tools necessary to be successful in their first couple months. (i.e. benefit information, timekeeping procedures, etc.) The one thing that is also helpful is to advertise the programs we offer. We get a lot of friend referrals, parent-child/family workers and couples, so marketing these programs is an excellent recruitment tool and pipeline for those who are looking for an addition to their van group.
What one thing are you most proud of with your CTR program? The community the program has created is something we are proud of. It’s awesome to see the people who have commuted together for 5-plus years reaching out to new employees who live in the same area and want to commute together. The atmosphere of travelling together also spills into their work relationships and creates a more cohesive team.
When you’re not wearing your ETC hat, what do you like to do outside of work? When I am away from the office, I am usually in the kitchen cooking something up. I’ve been cooking since I was 10 and love to try new recipes. Besides that, I love playing blues music, hanging with my pet bunny and finding new trails around Kirkland with my wife.
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Training & Events
Community Transit hosted programs (Each program is worth 1 hour of Advanced Training Credit)
Sept. 30, 1-2 p.m.: Virtual ETC Networking Meeting Join us for a virtual ETC Networking meeting which will feature Partner Therapeutics, one of our 2019 CTR Award winning worksites. Learn about their CTR program from Evalyn Thomas, Partner Therapeutics’ ETC, and get some ideas for your own CTR program. The meeting will include updates from your Community Transit CTR Team, as well as a fun networking activity. RSVP to CTR@commtrans.org
The Networking Meeting will not be recorded. To receive Advanced Training Credits, you'll need to be present on the Webex meeting.
Community Transit Pre-Recorded programs
Community Transit Live
Community Transit hosted a "CT Live" earlier this week focused on the September Service Change in effect now. The recorded interview with our Scheduling & Operational Design Manager can be found on the Community Transit Facebook page.
You can earn 1 hour of Advanced Training Credit when you watch this program and complete an Advanced Training Hours Survey.
Marketing and Starting a Vanpool
Sonja from our Vanpool staff discusses the sometimes complicated, but always rewarding, methods for kicking off or expanding vanpooling at your worksite. This 2019 recording is still relevant if your site is interested in marketing and starting vanpools. Please review the Addendum that provides program updates since 2019.
You can earn 1 hour of Advanced Training Credit when you watch this program and complete an Advanced Training Hours Survey.
ETC Basic Training Videos
We adapted our in-person ETC Basic Training to reflect the current business environment and recorded four short videos for our new ETCs as part of a virtual ETC Basic Training. The new videos, that total an hour in length, accompany our ETC Program Guide. All ETCs can “attend” ETC Basic as a refresher course and get Advanced Training Credits.
You can earn 1 hour of Advanced Training Credit when you watch the four videos and complete an Advanced Training Hours Survey.
WSRO 20/20: Seeing Transportation Options Clearly is a one-day digital experience hosted through Zoom.
The agenda is available here. The conference is free for members to attend. If you are not yet a WSRO member, you can purchase an individual membership for the remainder of 2020, which includes your conference registration. Non-Member Conference registration costs $62.50 and includes membership in WSRO for the remainder of the year! Register here.
Based on the sessions you attend, you can receive up to 5 hours of Advanced Training hours for 2020. There will also be an opportunity to join a conference recap program to share information with your ETC peers who were unable to attend. Reach out to us for more details, or if you have any questions.
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What your CT CTR Team is Reading
Your CTR team thought you may be interested in what we're reading these days. If you have an article, podcast or book you'd like to share, please send the information to CTR@commtrans.org.
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For you and your employees, your opinion matters
We encourage you to share these surveys and tests with your employees through your own newsletters and employee communications.
Community Transit is piloting its Trip Planner
In an effort to enhance our transit rider's online trip planning experience, Community Transit is piloting a brand new trip planner platform. Testing is still underway.
- Feedback from an initial group of customers has been generally positive. - We made the pilot product available to all customers in early August. - We will monitor feedback through September and augment it with 1:1 user testing.
We want to hear from you! So please share the new trip planner with your employees so they can plan their trips, which don't need to be work-related. Take the bus to the mall or to a favorite beach.
You can find the new Trip Planner here.
Rider Insights Wanted: Which Transit Tools Do You Use? Share Your Insights & Drive Improvements
Community Transit wants your input on the tools and resources you use to plan your Community Transit bus rides, whether you are a current bus rider or have stopped riding due to COVID-19.
Click here to take our survey — less than five minutes of your time can help us know how to better serve you. The survey is open until Oct. 7.
SnoCo Workshop Series Informing Light Rail Communities
The main purpose of this workshop and accompanying exercises is to gather input from people who live, work, or play in an area of Southwest Snohomish County about where they think different housing types should be located in the coming decades. This workshop is the latest part in a substantial multi-year effort to engage the public on a wide variety of topics related to this important project. Learn more about how you can stay informed and involved on the workshop page, including more on past and future public engagement efforts.
Sound Transit 2021 Service Plan
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Sound Transit saw a dramatic decrease in the number of people using their services each day. In response to this lower ridership and operator shortages, they implemented emergency service changes in the spring of 2020. As the economy slowly ramps back up, passengers are returning to transit, and we’re adding service in response.
Now they're planning for what our service should look like for 2021. They're looking carefully at where their services are most needed, where demand might increase, and which passengers depend most on their services.
At the same time, they're looking ahead to our next Link light rail extension opening in fall 2021 and considering how to reroute some of their services to connect with their three new stations in north Seattle (U District, Roosevelt and Northgate).
Sound Transit needs your input so they can adjust service to where you need it most. You can find the SURVEY HERE.
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