NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

Date: April 22, 2013

The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 13, 2013. The meeting will begin at 4:00 pm and will be held in the Rainier Room of the Pierce Transit Training Center, located at 3720 96th St. SW, Lakewood, WA. The purpose of the hearing is to allow public comment on proposed changes to Pierce Transit bus service effective September 29, 2013.

Nine public meetings have been held at various locations throughout the Pierce Transit service area including: City of Tacoma (2 meetings), City of Puyallup (2 meetings), NE Tacoma, City of University Place, City of Lakewood, City of Gig Harbor and Parkland/Spanaway in Unincorporated Pierce County.

Pierce Transit is responding to the continuing deficit in sales tax collections that began in December 2007. Sales tax collections represent 70% of our revenue. To address our current budget shortfall, we propose the service reductions as described below. These changes include modifications in all parts of Pierce Transitâ€™s network. These modifications are intended to respond to the need to eliminate an additional 28% of the services Pierce Transit currently operates.

The specific details of each route alternative are described at the www.piercetransit.org website and are generally described below.

Reduced AM/PM trips on fixed route and SHUTTLE on all days of the week.
Buses come less often on all days of the week.
Hours of service (span) are reduced on all days of the week.
The numbers of routes operating on the weekend are drastically reduced.
SHUTTLE paratransit service for people with disabilities; As bus service is reduced or eliminated, SHUTTLE service will also be reduced or eliminated.
The elimination of Route 62- Northeast Tacoma.
There will be no fixed route or SHUTTLE service on the days observed for the following six holidays: New Yearâ€™s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

All routes will be impacted with reduced service hours and reduced number of trips that operate. Information is available through Pierce Transitâ€™s website www.piercetransit.org website, or by calling Pierce Transit at 253.581.8000, or visiting our offices located at 3701 96th St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98496. These changes in service, if adopted, will be implemented by September 29, 2013.

If you are unable to attend the public hearing, you may submit written comments to:

Pierce Transit Operations Planning Division
ATTN: Mr. Kelly Hayden, Manager, Service Planning
PO Box 99070
Lakewood, WA 98496-0070
or planning2013@piercetransit.org

All written comments must be received by May 3, 2013.

Specialized transportation for registered SHUTTLE users to and from the hearing can be obtained by calling SHUTTLE at 253.581.8100 from one to five days in advance of the hearing. An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be provided upon request with a minimum notice of two weeks.

Deanne Jacobson
Clerk of the Board

Posted in the Tacoma Daily Index and the Tacoma News Tribune on April 23 and May 8, 2013

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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

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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.)
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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