Community Transit – Page 3 – Seattle Transit Blog

North by Northwest 28: Looping from Skagit to Whidbey to Snohomish to Skagit

November 2, 2014 by Joe "AvgeekJoe" Konzlar

North by Northwest 28

Photos from my trip

Part 1 – The Ride to Island Transit HQ

Having been inspired by Glenn in Portland and fueled in part by a genuine fear of losing Island Transit’s 411W due to Island Transit cutbacks; I decided with the very genuine need to park a video camera at the Washington State Auditor’s Office (hereafter SAO) Exit Conference with Island Transit on 24 October for STB purposes to make a loop trip. I started from Skagit County around to Island Transit HQ south of Coupeville to the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry to the Future of Flight and then back to Skagit. I’ve also decided to instead of imbedding every photo to hyperlink most to the Imgur album.

I decided due to the very real threat the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) Exit Conference being moved up before 10 AM to where I could not arrive and video the entire conference to take A Better Cab [(360) 755-9262] (which I recommend for your Skagit taxi needs since 2007) to the Chuckanut Park & Ride. Yes, the same Park & Ride I’ve written about before where I’ve seen folks relieve themselves around the station or against a lightpost due to lack of basic amenties.

I then boarded the Skagit Transit 208 south to Skagit Station. A nice half hour ride and happy to pay the $2 for an all-day in-county pass to Skagit Transit, which is saving me a buck for the day.

Especially as thanks to Island Transit pinching pennies Island Transit no longer has 411W stop at Skagit Station but now March’s Point Park & Ride. This now means a $1 fare or using your $2 all-day in-county Skagit Transit pass from Skagit Station on a small bus with hard seats to March’s Point. A short wait later, Island Transit’s 411W arrived. On board, surprisingly & shockingly for a fare-free transit agency in fiscal dire straights was this ad:

Washington State Ridesharing Organization Ad for Trip to Alaska

Yes, Island Transit is deferring its insurance payments but has these ads all over their buses. Profligate spending if ever… especially as dues to Washington State Ridesharing Organization are somehow a higher priority than the state’s transit insurance pool. Paging Mayor Studley… paging Mayor Studley…

At least I had a pleasant ride with another avgeek who was my driver over to Oak Harbor in a comfortable seat. Once in Oak Harbor I had about 20 minutes to cross the street, use the public restroom and then cross back to board the Route 1 bus. After politely informing the driver I was writing for STB about Island Transit, I had a driver helpfully pull me off at the closest bus stop for Island Transit. Through no fault of the driver, the bus stop was a gravel lot with no sidewalk a 10 minute, 0.5 mile walk from The Transit’s HQ. Not exactly conducive to having riders hold Island Transit to account… in fact I was the only transit rider to attend the SAO Exit Conference.

Part 2 – Island Transit HQ to the Clinton Ferry Dock

Island Transit HQ Sign

As a transit user who genuinely wants Island Transit to succeed and be accountable; I was not too happy with the fact Island Transit spent money on artsy fartsy benches, a rarely used exercise room & conference room, unused golf carts and refrigerators, gazebos and snow removal equipment, a time-out room and BBQ equipment. Nor am I happy at all the CPA for Island Transit couldn’t take a few basic questions for an upcoming post on Island Transit right now sitting on my editor’s desk…

Even worse was sitting through the Island Transit Board’s mini-meeting I took a black & white still of and also put on video – where the Island Transit Board could not make basic decisions on allowing public comment and recruiting for a permanent replacement for an Executive Director. Having stood though that as the only transit user I agree with Oak Harbor Mayor Dudley the Island Transit Board need to start multitasking or needs replacement.

I’ve written up all about the SAO Exit Conference so will spare you another 1,500+ word commentary. Enjoy this picture though.

After standing and video’ing all that accountability, I had a ride from a new friend to the nearest Island Transit southbound bus stop lacking a bench or shelter. I boarded Island Transit’s Route 1 again from that stop and Route 1 was running behind schedule. At least the seats were comfy… and I did get to my final destination. Namely here:

Island Transit Route 1 at the Clinton Ferry Terminal

**Part 3 – MV Tokitae to Future of Flight**

MV Tokitae

As Island Transit Route 1 was running late, I did not get to ride the MV Kitsap but instead as you can see the MV Tokitae. Brand new ferry, desperately needed part of renewing the state ferry system fleet. I was hoping for a chance to get some external photos of this beaut before taking interior pictures, but oh well.

The MV Tokitae is kept very clean, has a closed sun deck due to US Coast Guard crew requirements versus budgetary constraints but open small decks over the car deck, has dignified advertising, a dining area, a nice cafe, the personnel were professional. I then got to go outside and enjoy seeing the Mukilteo lighthouse. Once landing on Mukilteo, I had an about 3 minute walk to a Community Transit bus stop.

At this point, I began to truly appreciate urban transit. So far this day I’ve had to deal with rural transit where runs are every hour. At Community Transit, service with Community Transit Route 113 is every half hour. So instead of standing in the middle of nowhere waiting for a bus, the wait’s only a few minutes to get onto Route 113. Although this bus’s interior is dated, I was in no position to complain for a short ride.

With a GoPro taking stop motion on my head, the time soon arrived to accomplish the second big video sortie of the day. Namely a stop-motion of the hike up to Future of Flight. I’ve made this YouTube to provoke some discussion so here you go:

I think now you know why I’m so pushy on getting a bus stop at Future of Flight. It seems after talking to the City of Everett this will require Community Transit re-prioritization. So will be covering the new Community Transit service.

Part 4 – The Ride Home

No pictures as I was frankly tired and shook up by tragic events a short distance away. I had a friend drop me off at the SWIFT, then barely missed Skagit Transit 90X. The jerk driver wouldn’t stop as he pulled out, I ran and yelled “WAIT, WAIT” so I got stranded for an hour at Everett Station. Called the supervisor to complain, torqued off the driver couldn’t wait a damn 30 seconds. Then I got on the next Skagit Transit 90X, then a 45 minute wait due to a route detour & Stilliguamish River bridge repair, then the Skagit Transit 300 and got home. Again, I had important video to compile and upload. Hard to have good transit connections when transit can’t stay on schedule – and the Stilliguamish River bridge work + a special detour is totally messing up connections.

Overall, this day trip loop is worth making if you have the time. Due to Island Transit cutbacks a loop trip on Whidbey Island can only be done Monday-Friday which seems indefinite until Saturday service returns. Also need to make sure you can miss a mass transit connection or two.

Continue reading “North by Northwest 28: Looping from Skagit to Whidbey to Snohomish to Skagit”

North by Northwest 07: Community Transit & Rebounding Into Paine Field…

August 22, 2014August 21, 2014 by Joe "AvgeekJoe" Konzlar

Paine Field Transit Map – Version 0.1

Primitive STB Paine Field Transit Map – V 0.1

Readers, sorry if you’re getting North by Northwested a bit much but… we’ve had an Island Transit fiscal crisis about to explode again, a need to remember there’s more to Northwest Washington Transit issues than my aviation tourism advocacy, and the news is flowing thick & fast. That said, as promised in my intro post on Paine Transit service that I’d make a special post, I finally was able to make contact with Sam Brodland, Community Transit, Supervisor of Service Planning & Scheduling in the middle of his plans for a September Service Change to start climbing out of the Great Recession – which I appreciate. In fact, Mr. Brodland said I was “timely” several times in our conversation.

As other Seattle Transit Blog reports have mentioned (our editor Martin H. Duke’s report, Brent White’s warning about Community Transit’s hole , and a 2010 report of Community Transit service cuts) Community Transit got hit hard by the Great Recession. Sunday service and holiday services were wiped out. Also according to a Community Transit press release, “In 2010 and 2012, Community Transit cut 37 percent of its bus service and laid off 200 employees as a response to the recession’s impacts on sales tax revenue, the agency’s primary source of funding.”

As such, it’s realized Community Transit is undeserving Paine Field. We discussed two of the locations most under served – namely The Future of Flight which is part-museum, part-store, part-HQ for Boeing Tours, part-observatory, and part-events center. According to a PDF factsheet, Future of Flight “draws approximately 200,000 visitors per year and generates an additional $3.5 million annually of tourism spending in Snohomish County.” There is the possibility at some point of a route adjustment to bring current Mukilteo Community Transit routes out to the Future of Flight.

Then there’s the difficult location of Flying Heritage Collection stranded at 3407 109th Street SW Everett. That one’s going to require some serious public desire. Currently, to reach Flying Heritage Collection requires significant hiking through industrial areas at the moment to reach from current transit services (e.g. 1.5 mile hike from the nearest Swift Stop) – not what I’d consider safe for somebody packing $500 or more in camera gear like me. Plus such a hike would leave one a bit winded arriving at Flying Heritage Collection to walk around the exhibits.

So how do we voice that public desire folks? Mr. Broadland recommended if we who support transit for Paine Field museums wanted to have our voices heard make sure to send an e-mail to riders-AT-commtrans-DOT-org and testify at upcoming Community Transit Board Meetings. Those are at 09/04/14 3pm and 10/02/14 3pm at 7100 Hardeson Road.

Ultimately, to be successful: My efforts are going to need to become our efforts. Stay tuned!

North by Northwest 04: Transit at Paine Field

August 15, 2014August 22, 2014 by Joe "AvgeekJoe" Konzlar

2014-07-09 Paine Field Panorama by Joe “AvgeekJoe” Konzlar

[Note: Unlike most Page 2 posts, this is slightly edited for clarity.]

Fellow commenters on Seattle Transit Blog know my passion for more mass transit services to and from Paine Field. I’ve even written a letter to the Everett Herald editor sharing my aspirations for a route serving – counterclockwise from the northwest corner – the Future of Flight, Historic Flight Foundation, Flying Heritage Collection and the Museum of Flight Restoration Center.

Now what and where are these marquee facilities? See a Paine Field map also showing a few others not open to the public. The Future of Flight is part-museum, part-HQ for Boeing Tours, part-observatory and part-events center. According to a PDF factsheet, it “draws approximately 200,000 visitors per year and generates an additional $3.5 million annually of tourism spending in Snohomish County.” Historic Flight Foundation is a flying museum at the end of Bernie Webber Drive that preserves aviation history from 1927 to 1957 with many historic aircraft. The Flying Heritage Collection is Paul G. Allen’s (mostly) flying collection of historic warbirds that range from WWI to a modern Mig-29. There are also other artifacts like several ground vehicles, cutaway engines and disarmed rockets. Finally, the Museum of Flight Restoration Center restores aircraft for static display and is open to self-guided tours much of the year.

Everett Transit Route 12 serves the Future of Flight museum.* It required a nice 0.8 mile hike – partially through a Boeing parking lot and partially on a nice trail. The problem is that in inclement weather very few wish to hike almost a mile to visit the Future of Flight. Please see pictures below from my trip on the 12:

Museum of Flight Restoration Center through the Everett Transit Route 12 window(1)

Getting off Everett Transit Route 12 in a big Boeing parking lot.

A view from my 0.8 mile hike from the nearest Everett Transit Route 12 bus stop to the Future of Flight

I asked local transit agencies what they could do about this situation. Community Transit couldn’t respond by press time except to refer me to Everett Transit. An Everett Transit spokesperson told me Everett Transit will take comment in late winter or early spring on route planning. I’m going to start a petition for extending Everett Transit Route 12 that last 0.8 mile to get a bus stop at the Future of Flight Monday through Saturday on a trial basis with performance benchmarks.

There is is a much appreciated Community Transit bus stop at the foot of Bernie Webber Drive, the road that goes up to Historic Flight Foundation that serves several routes that link up with Swift (Bus Rapid Transit) to the south and both Sounder North and Washington State Ferries to the north. The Everett Herald reported a Community Transit Park & Ride is in the works for that location, which is sensible considering Historic Flight Foundation uses the proposed grassy area for special event parking anyway.

Now if only Flying Heritage Collection would get some transit service… Recently Flying Heritage Collection had a special event called Skyfair on July 26th and provided a bus shuttle to and from a nearby park & ride which is nice for those whom needed parking. Problem is there was no adjoining service from either Everett Transit or Community Transit to supplement and amplify those services – requiring me to hail a cab from Everett to attend. With Flying Heritage Collection having Fly Days on many June, July, August and September Saturdays with hundreds of attendees; it’s illogical to deny Flying Heritage Collection direct Saturday transit services. Heck, I’d pay a few bucks for a shuttle to/from a Swift (Bus Rapid Transit) stop.

Ultimately, I argue that the international aviation geek community deserves some love and mutual cooperation from both Everett Transit & Community Transit. In a perfect world where Paine Field did not fall between the Community Transit & Everett Transit service areas, having a Paine Field circular that would link to Swift (Bus Rapid Transit) would make economic sense because according to Paine Field’s official website, “Paine Field and its tenants have a $19.8 billion economic impact on the region and the state. Additionally, the Airport and the businesses utilizing the airfield provide $79 million in tax revenue to the local and state governments”. I argue that from $79 million in tax revenue we could get some decent transit services to all of Paine Field’s tenants.

* You can also get out to the Museum of Flight Restoration Center by using Everett Transit Route 12 and disembarking at the 100TH ST SW & AIRPORT RD stop for a 0.23 mile walk. To walk from the Museum of Flight Restoration Center to Flying Heritage Collection is a 1.5 mile, 30 minute hike through an industrial area. Not exactly tourist friendly by almost any stretch of the imagination…

Community Transit To Cut Holiday and all Sunday Service eff. June 13th

June 9, 2010June 11, 2010 by Gordon Werner

Beginning Saturday, Community Transit implements a broad package of service cuts including frequency reductions and the complete cessation of Sunday and Holiday service in order to help save $16 million over the next two years.

Between 2008-2013, Community Transit estimates it will have lost as much as $180 million in anticipated sales tax revenues due to the recession. Aside from the service cuts, the agency raised local bus fares on June 1 to help bring in additional revenue.

According to Community Transit, they plan on restoring the suspended Sunday and holiday service as soon as funding is available. The agency is exploring new state and federal funding to allow for service restoration before the economy recovers. From the press release:

Bus riders are being advised to make their own transportation plans for Sundays, or call the North Sound 2-1-1 social services hotline for assistance. Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit will continue to operate on Sundays.

Service cuts are as follows:
Continue reading “Community Transit To Cut Holiday and all Sunday Service eff. June 13th”