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Community Transits plan to increase service
Published:2015-09-22 Opinion
Community Transits plan to increase service Snohomish County is experiencing tremendous growth, and there’s more on the way. The Puget Sound Regional Council forecasts that the county’s population will increase another 240,000 people by 2040 – that’s about 10,000 people (the population of Snohomish) every year! The future is looking crowded. The region’s traffic problem is getting worse with all this growth, so it’s important that we provide a public transportation option for those who choose it, and more space on the road for those who don’t.
Last year our ridership increased 8 percent, and with Sunday bus service back it continues to grow this year. Our commuter service to Seattle fills up early, and people are standing in the aisle for the entire commute. On Route 424 from Snohomish to Seattle, that’s a long commute! We are currently stretched beyond our limits to meet demand. Thankfully, we have an opportunity to make investments that will improve our transit service. The new state transportation bill enabled our Board of Directors – made up of elected leaders from around Snohomish County, including Snohomish City Councilmember Tom Hamilton – to place a measure on the November ballot to increase transit service. It is called Proposition 1. If approved, the three-tenths of 1 percent increase in sales tax would cost the average adult $33 a year and would enable us to add: • More trips on local bus routes throughout the county. Our long term vision is to have a network of Swift lines for fast, frequent bus service throughout the county. And, new service on Highway 9 would greatly increase the transit options for residents along Highway 2, making the Snohomish Park & Ride a popular transit hub.
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