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Pierce Transit Spring 2024 Updates

May 2024

Dear Community Member,

I hope you are enjoying this spring season and looking forward, as I am, to the summer ahead. The past couple months have been exciting ones for your local transit agency and the customers we serve, with new and improved service options and work getting underway on the agency’s new six-year Strategic Plan.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of Pierce Transit. It is an honor to serve you and the rest of our community.

Respectfully yours,

Mike Griffus
Pierce Transit CEO


Introducing Stream Community Line

On Earth Day, April 22, we were thrilled to cut the ribbon on Stream Community Line, the South Sound’s first high-capacity transit line. The route runs between Spanaway and downtown Tacoma and offers a new connection to Tacoma Domes Station and all the transit resources offered there. Stream departs every 20 minutes each weekday morning and afternoon and makes just 14 stops in each direction, providing a good option for commuters looking to travel up and down the corridor quickly. The service is also supported by our partner, MultiCare. More information on Stream Community Line can be found at PierceTransit.org/Stream. You’ll also find a podcast about the service and ribbon cutting event on Spotify.


Pierce Transit's 2023 Annual Report

Each year Pierce Transit produces an Annual Report that summarizes the agency’s work from the prior year, and we have just released the agency’s 2023 Annual Report. The report includes information about major agency initiatives, such as implementation of ORCA LIFT, a Bus System Recovery Plan, sustainability efforts, and Pierce Transit Runner. It also touches on ways we served our community in 2023, including service to special events, free rides to heating and cooling centers, and participation in more than 100 community events. The report also includes official agency ridership and budget information. Thank you for taking the time to read this key agency update.


Pierce Transit and Sound Transit - Who Does What?

I am often asked what the differences are between Pierce Transit and Sound Transit, and which agency provides which services. Pierce Transit is a “Public Transportation Benefit Area,” which is a special taxing district created solely for the purpose of funding public transportation. Pierce Transit service extends about 292 square miles throughout Pierce County, including 13 cities and towns and parts of some unincorporated parts of the county. Pierce Transit receives the majority of its funding from a 0.6 percent portion of the local sales tax. Pierce Transit is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners made up of elected officials from the jurisdictions it serves. Pierce Transit’s services include bus service, SHUTTLE paratransit, Rideshare (formerly Vanpool) and on-demand Runner service.

Sound Transit is a “Regional Transit Authority,” created in 1993 as a joint effort by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce county governments to build a regional rapid transit system. Sound Transit is independent of local transit agencies (including Pierce Transit) and is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors made up of elected officials from member jurisdictions and the Secretary of Transportation. Its service area spans from Everett in the north, to DuPont in the south, and east beyond Lake Sammamish. Sound Transit is funded by local sales taxes, property taxes, and motor vehicle excise taxes (car tabs) levied within its taxing district. Sound Transit’s services include light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and Sound Transit Express bus service. Sound Transit contracts with local transit agencies, including Pierce Transit, to maintain and operate its Express bus service.

Pierce Transit recently released a podcast episode on the various ways Pierce Transit and Sound Transit provide public transportation and the differences and similarities between the two. You’ll find it on Spotify.

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Trip Planner Help

Trip Planner Tips - Entering Locations

To create a trip plan you need to enter both a starting location (origin) and an ending location (destination). For information about stops, schedules, or service at a specific location, you only need to enter one location.

The Trip Planner recognizes most street intersections and addresses as well as many landmarks in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties. If what you entered is not immediately recognized, the Trip Planner will offer you a list of options. You can choose one of the options, but if your intended location is not there, select the "Revise Original Entries" link to return to the entry page and change the entries you have already made.

Addresses

  • You don't need to type in the city along with the address. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
  • You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type 110 Jones instead of 110 Jones Boulevard.)
  • You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 1000 Main instead of 1000 S Main. But type 1000 West Viewmont for 1000 West Viewmont Way W.)
  • Some streets and addresses are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby location, such as an intersection or a landmark.
  • You should not enter the suite number or apartment number.  Just the house number and street name (Example: type in 401 Broadway instead of 401 Broadway Avenue Suite 800).

Intersections

  • The "&" symbol is the only character used between two street names to show an intersection. (Examples: 1st & B, James & Madison)
  • You don't need to type in the city. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
  • You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type Conifer & Jones instead of Conifer Circle & Jones Boulevard.)
  • You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 3rd & Main instead of 3rd S & S Main. But type 34th & West Viewmont for 34th W & West Viewmont Way W.)
  • Some streets are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby intersection or a landmark.

Landmarks

Government Sites: Pierce County Health Dept, Pierce Co Sheriffs Office, Tacoma City Hall

Major Commercial Sites: Tacoma Mall, Sheraton Hotel

Transportation Facilities: Sea-Tac Airport, Greyhound Bus Depot

Schools & Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College

Sports & Leisure: Cheney Stadium, Pt Defiance Zoo

Medical Facilities: Group Health, Tacoma General Hospital


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