Pierce Transit Rolls Out Expansion Plan and Pitches Funding Measure
Agency leaders at Pierce Transit this week presented a potential system expansion plan that lays out a road map for a 40% jump in transit service, thanks to a new funding source that voters could be asked to approve this November. The plan includes four new bus routes in different corners of Pierce County, increases in frequency levels across dozens of existing bus routes, and two route overhauls as part of the agency's Stream bus rapid transit system.
If given the greenlight, the 0.3% sales tax increase that this plan is built around would be the biggest infusion of resources into one of Washington's most under-resourced transit agencies in decades. Pierce Transit's funding rate has been stagnant since 2002, with its 0.6% sales tax rate well below peer agencies across the state.
By comparison, Spokane Transit is funded by a 0.8% sales tax allocation, King County Metro has a 0.9% rate, and Community Transit in Snohomish County and Intercity Transit in Thurston County are both at 1.2%.
Without new funding, service cuts could be on the horizon in Pierce County, as cost pressures cause the agency to eat into its financial reserves – a dilemma that is not unique to Pierce Transit. King County Metro faces similar financial issues, which has led advocates to push for a new countywide transit funding measure in Pierce County's neighbor to the north. Such a measure looks unlikely this year.
https://www.theurbanist.org/pierce-transit-expansion-proposal-would-boost-service-40/?ref=daily-articles-newsletter