Pierce Transit to implement improved service, route efficiencies Sunday, Sept. 22

Pierce Transit will make improvements to most of its routes and implement efficiencies that will allow for 46 additional trips starting Sunday, Sept. 22. Here are some of the key changes that will benefit customers:

Schedules will be easier to understand and remember. Many routes departing from transit centers will change to easier-to-remember departure times. For example, routes may depart at 5 after the hour, or 20 after, or 45 after, rather than at 7 minutes after, or 23 after, 46 after, etc.
Route run times have been adjusted to mirror what weâ€™re seeing on the road. The new schedules are updated to reflect the latest traffic loads and other impacts, which will help the bus arrive on time more often.
Weâ€™re implementing efficiencies to add trips. For example, we are turning some empty â€œback to baseâ€ trips into passenger-carrying trips, giving us the ability to offer additional trips at little to no cost. Starting Sept. 22, customers will have 46 new trip options: 14 on weekdays, 12 on Saturdays and 20 on Sundays.
The JBLM Connector is made permanent. Pierce Transitâ€™s on-demand service with seven boarding locations between the Lakewood Transit Center and the McChord Commissary becomes a permanent service. The Connector operates Monday through Friday from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m. There is no charge for the service and riders must have an approved Department of Defense ID to board.
Changes are coming to Route 63. Route 63 is extended to reach The Center at Norpoint and riders will have three new weekday trip options: One departing 45th Street NE and Nassau Ave. NE at 9:08 a.m., and trips departing 10th Ave. and Commerce St. in downtown Tacoma at 1:50 p.m. and 3 p.m. The portion of King County Metro Route 903 that had been serving NE Tacoma will no longer be operating. Route 63 will still intersect with Route 903 near the Pierce/King County line, giving riders the opportunity to transfer and make connections to other destinations.

For information about these and other changes coming to Pierce Transit routes starting Sept. 22, visit PierceTransit.org/ServiceChange. The Pierce Transit Routes and Schedules book that goes into effect Sept. 22 can also be accessed at that link.

Back To News

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