Pierce Transit

Public transportation in Pierce County historically focused on the city of Tacoma, which laid its first streetcar lines in 1888. The streetcars were phased out in the 1930s and replaced with citywide bus service, with the last line closing in 1938.[1] The operators of the streetcar and bus systems, Tacoma Transit Company, was acquired by the city government in 1961 for $750,000. Under city ownership, the system was funded by a $0.75 monthly household tax first levied in 1965.[2]

A public transportation benefit area (PTBA) was created in 1979 with the goal of establishing a countywide bus system. On November 6, 1979, voters in Tacoma approved a 0.3 percent sales tax to fund a new transit system, the Pierce County Transportation Benefit Area or "Pierce Transit". Pierce Transit took over Tacoma Transit's routes on January 1, 1980, and over the following year annexed other systems throughout the county.[2]

Pierce Transit began operating express bus service from Lakewood and Tacoma to Downtown Seattle on September 17, 1990.[3] The routes were later converted into Sound Transit Express routes, funded by the regional transit authority and operated by Pierce Transit, in 1999.[4] The agency opened its central bus hub at Tacoma Dome Station in 1997, where Sounder commuter rail and Tacoma Link light rail service began operating in 2000 and 2003, respectively.[5][6]

The passage of Initiative 695 in 1999 eliminated the use of motor vehicle excise tax, a funding source for local transit throughout the state, leading to service cuts at Pierce Transit despite it later being ruled unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court. In 2000, 14 percent of service was reduced and a fare increase was set to temporarily make up for revenue from the tax, which made up 38 percent of the agency's operating budget. Voters approved a 0.3 percent sales tax increase to fund transit service during a special election in February 2002,[7] preventing a planned cut in bus service of up to 45 percent, and up to 25 percent for paratransit.[8][9]

Pierce Transit is operated by nine-member Board of Commissioners composed of elected officials throughout the county. The Board of Commissioners operates under a Chief Executive Officer, Sue Drier.[17] A staff of approximately 1,000 man the five departments, with over 50% working in Transit Operations.

As of 2012, Pierce Transit served a 292-square-mile (760 km²) area with a population of approximately 557,000.[14] Areas served include Auburn, Edgewood, Federal Way, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Lakewood, Milton, Pacific, Purdy, Puyallup, Ruston, South Hill, Steilacoom, Tacoma and University Place.

In 2008, 19 million people utilized its services. 272 wheelchair-accessible buses circulate between 3,300 bus stops, 626 bus shelters and 28 park-and-ride lots. Additionally, Pierce Transit runs 11 transit centers and stations. Pierce Transit also provides vanpool, ridematching and express transportation between counties. Disabled passengers who are not able to use Pierce Transit's buses have access to a special transportation system called SHUTTLE.

In 1986, Pierce Transit began experimenting with compressed natural gas as a fuel source for its bus fleet by modifying two existing buses, becoming the first agency in the nation to do so.[19] As of 2018, 118 of the 153 buses in the agency's fleet run on compressed natural gas. Other models are diesel–electric hybrids or use electric batteries.[20]

Bus

See also: Sound Transit § Fleet

As of June 2020[21][22]

Manufacturer	Model	Year	Fleet Numbers	Qty.	Length	Fuel Type	Notes	Image
Gillig	Phantom 40'	1999	8018–8069	23	40 ft (12 m)	Diesel	Reserve fleet Acquired from Sound Transit 8022, 8026–8027, 8030, 8036–8042, 8046–8054, 8058, 8060–8062, 8064–8065, 8067 retired Some buses used on Sound Transit Express
	Low Floor CNG (G27D102N4)	2015	251–260	10		CNG
		2016	261–270	10
	Low Floor CNG (G31D102N4)	2017	271–277	7
	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	2010	501–509	9		Hybrid Electric
		2013	510–515	6
		2014	516–521	6
	Low Floor CNG (G31D102N4)	2018	10101–10123	23		CNG
		2019	10124–10143	20
Chance	AH-28 Streetcar	2000	330–332	3	28 ft (8.5 m)	Diesel	Replica trolleys Acquired from Link Transit
New Flyer	C40LF	2002	167–184	18	40 ft (12 m)	CNG
		2004	185–204	20
		2005	205–229	25
	C40LFR	2007	230–239	10
		2008	240–250	11
	C30LF	2004	305–319	8	30 ft (9.1 m)		Reserve fleet 311–317 retired
			311–317	7
Proterra	Catalyst E2	2018	522–524	3	40 ft (12 m)	Battery Electric

Shuttle/Bus Plus

	Make	Model	Purchased	Retired	Qty.	Fleet Numbers	Fuel Type
	Ford E450	ElDorado Aerotech	2004	retired	49	5001-5049
	Ford E450	ElDorado Aerotech	2005		30	5801-5809, 5050-5070
	Ford E450	?	2006		5	5071-5075
	Ford E450	ElDorado Aerotech	2007			5810-5819, 5076-5100
	Ford E450	ElDorado Aerotech	2012	in service	38	5101-5138	Unleaded
			2014		18	5149-5160, 5165-5170
			2014		10	5139-5148	CNG
			2016		30	5171-5200	Unleaded

• King County Metro
• Kitsap Transit
• Intercity Transit
• Washington State Ferries

• Official website