Pierce Transit CEO Community Newsletter

March 2023

Dear Community Member,

I hope this message finds you well and gearing up for spring and summer. This month Pierce Transit has good news to share about our service and other events going on at our agency. Thank you for your continued interest in Pierce Transit and for subscribing to receive these updates. It is an honor to serve you.

Respectfully yours,

Mike Griffus
Pierce Transit CEO

ORCA LIFT Comes to Pierce Transit

Starting April 1, Pierce Transit joins our regional transit partners in offering the ORCA LIFT program. ORCA LIFT is a reduced adult fare program available to individuals with incomes below or equal to 200 percent of Federal Poverty Level guidelines.

Those who qualify will pay $1 per one-way trip on most transit services around Puget Sound, including Pierce Transit buses and Runner on-demand services.

Customers can learn more about ORCA LIFT program guidelines and how to apply by visiting the info.myORCA.com/LIFT website. Several locations in Pierce County are processing in-person applications; you’ll find the list and more information at PierceTransit.org/ORCALIFT. We are also hosting in-person enrollment events at Pierce Transit’s Customer Service Center at Tacoma Dome Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: March 23, 28 and 30; April 4 and 6.

More Weekend Service Coming Your Way

Pierce Transit implemented our twice-yearly service change March 19. I am happy to report we added 149 daily trips, adding 6,700 hours of service to our annual total. We added almost all of this service to weekends, which we had to reduce during the pandemic and until now have not had the opportunity to restore. Details of enhancements by route are available at PierceTransit.org/pierce-transit-routes.

In addition, Pierce Transit has implemented several new tools to help you plan and take your trip, including a trip planner at PierceTransit.org; monitors at major boarding hubs with real-time arrival information; Transit app for trip planning and real-time information; Route alerts by subscription; a call/text option from your bus stop, and call-in help at Pierce Transit’s Customer Service Center.

Making Sure You Have a Safe Ride

One of the ways we keep our customers and employees safe is by creating a culture of safety at Pierce Transit. Safety is top-of-mind in everything we do. We start off internal meetings with a safety message; we hold quarterly all-staff Safety meetings, and we have a nationally award-winning safe driver training program that includes many innovative elements other agencies from around the nation are asking about.

Pierce Transit’s most recent South Sound Connected podcast features Chief Safety Officer Reggie Reese describing our safety program and new technologies we are using to support training. When you have a few moments, I hope you will tune in.

Come to Our Hiring Event March 30!

Are you or someone you know interested in finding out more about joining the Pierce Transit team? If so, we hope you will join us for an upcoming hiring event:

Date: Thursday, March 30
Times: Session 1: 10:30 a.m. to noon; Session 2: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Location: WorkSource, 2121 S. State Street, Suite 300, Tacoma

You’ll be able to talk with employees currently in the roles we have open, apply on the spot, and potentially interview. You’ll also hear about upcoming career opportunities.

If you know someone who would like to apply but can’t make the hiring event, please encourage them to visit PierceTransit.org/careers.

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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