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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Vol. CXXIV, No. 30
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
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Pierce Transit scales back proposed service cuts
Posted online Tues., Feb. 12 Photo Courtesy Pierce Transit Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Monday directing staff to revise service reduction plans in September that will limit weekend bus service. Pierce Transit currently Pierce Transit operates 417,000 annual has revised its service hours. The revised plans for service service plan will reduce anreductions schednual service hours to apuled to begin in proximately 300,000, or a 28 September from 34 percent reduction from curpercent to 28 perrent levels. The plan adopted cent. Pierce Tranlast month reduced service sit is implementing to 275,000 annual service service reductions hours, or a 34 percent reducafter voters retion from current levels. jected Proposition Pierce Transit is imple1 in November, menting service reductions which would have after voters rejected Proporestored access to sition 1 in November, which essential services would have restored access to for seniors, the disessential services for seniors, abled, and people the disabled, and people who who rely on Pierce rely on Pierce Transit by in- Transit by increascreasing the sales and use ing the sales and tax in Pierce County. use tax in Pierce The agency has received County. $6.2 million in revenue through two Federal Transit Administration "State of Good Repair" grants and congressional approval of the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit. In addition, over the next decade, the agency
will extend the useful life of buses from 14 years to 16 years and eliminate some planned improvements to its maintenance facilities, redirecting a total of $19.5 million from the Pierce Transit capital plan. These efforts combined will add $25.7 million for bus operations over 10 years. "We have been working very hard for the last couple of months to find these savings," said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith. "There is some risk in using these dollars for service today, but given the strong need for service in this community and the repeated desire of our board members to find a way
Pierce Transit schedules 8 informational meetings Pierce Transit will host eight informational meetings for the public regarding the revised service reduction plan at locations around the Pierce Transit service area: LAKEWOOD Weds., March 6, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Pierce Transit Training Center (Rainier Room); 3720 96th Street SW, Lakewood. UW TACOMA Thurs., March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; William W. Phillip Hall (Jane Russell Commons); 1918 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. NORTHEAST TACOMA Weds., March 13, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Northeast Tacoma Police Substation; 4731 Norpoint Way NE, Tacoma.
PARKLAND / SPANAWAY Mon., March 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Parkland/ Spanaway Pierce County Library; 13718 Pacific Avenue South, Tacoma. PUYALLUP Thurs., March 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Puyallup Library (North Room); 324 South Meridian, Puyallup. GIG HARBOR Weds., March 20, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Gig Harbor Civic Center (Council Chambers); 3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor. PUYALLUP Tues., March 26, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Puyallup Library (North Room); 324 South Meridian, Puyallup.
to provide service on the weekend, we feel this is the right choice." Almost all Pierce Transit routes will be affected. The primary impacts of the proposed service reductions are: WEEKDAYS -- 36 routes operating 1,250 daily trips; Limited service after 7 p.m.; Limited service during mid-day. SATURDAYS -- 24 routes operating 456 trips; No service after 7 p.m.; Limited service during midday. SUNDAYS -- 15 routes operating 244 trips; No service after 7 p.m.; Limited service during midday. OTHER -- Elimination of holiday service; Elimination of Route 62, which serves Northeast Tacoma; No restoration of special service to events like the Puyallup Fair; SHUTTLE paratransit service for eligible people with disabilities operates during the same days and times as bus service. As bus service is reduced or eliminated, SHUTTLE service will also be reduced or eliminated. Detailed service reduction plan information will be available online in the coming days at piercetransit.org. A public hearing on implementation of the revised plan is scheduled to occur on May 13.
NOTE TO READERS
In observance of Presidents' Day, the Tacoma Daily Index will not be published on Mon., Feb. 18. Publication will resume on Tues., Feb. 19. Have a safe holiday.