Editing Community Transit (section)

=== 1990s and 2000s ===

==== Fraud investigation ====
CT was involved in a [[criminal investigation]] conducted by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) in the mid-1990s of Ed's Transmission, a [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmission]] shop in Everett used by the agency for bus parts. Detectives from the FBI and Snohomish County [[Sheriff]] seized records from both parties and began a two-month audit of Community Transit management.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergsman |first1=Jerry |last2=Alexander |first2=Karen |date=July 22, 1993 |title=Investigators seize CT records |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930722/1712341/investigators-seize-ct-records----agency-is-target-of-federal-probe-involving-service-work |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> The auditors released a report that criticized the management style of Executive Director Ken Graska and his department heads, leading to the former's resignation in December 1993 after nine years at his position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Karen |last2=Brooks |first2=Diane |date=December 1, 1993 |title=CT's director resigns |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19931201/1734623/cts-director-resigns |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Federal prosecutors accused Ralph Woodall, the 50-year-old co-owner of the shop, of 15 counts of [[mail fraud]] after intentionally overbilling for transmission repairs. Community Transit Maintenance Director Michael Lynn resigned after confessing that he had accepted gifts from Woodall in exchange for sending all of CT's transmissions to Ed's Transmissions without going through competitive [[bidding]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=December 10, 1996 |title=Federal trial begins over fraud alleged in CT bus repairs |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961210/2364154/federal-trial-begins-over-fraud-alleged-in-ct-bus-repairs |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> A [[United States District Court for the Western District of Washington|U.S. District Court]] jury found Woodall guilty of 15 counts of mail fraud in December 1996,<ref>{{cite news |last=Clutter |first=Stephen |date=December 24, 1996 |title=Mechanic is guilty of fraud |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961224/2366694/mechanic-is-guilty-of-fraud |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> with Judge [[John C. Coughenour]] sentencing him to 2.5 years in federal prison the following May, along with Ed's Transmission being forced to pay a $825,000 [[settlement (litigation)|settlement]] after a [[civil suit]] was filed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koch |first=Anne |date=May 31, 1997 |title=Shop owner sentenced to 2 1/2 years for CT fraud |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970531/2542024/shop-owner-sentenced-to-2-12-years-for-ct-fraud |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>

==== Proposed consolidations with Everett Transit ====
{{See also|Everett Transit}}
[[File:Swift passing Everett Transit bus at Everett Station.jpg|alt=A Community Transit bus passing a parked Everett Transit bus|thumb|right|A [[Swift Bus Rapid Transit|Swift]] coach passing a parked [[Everett Transit]] bus at [[Everett Station]]]]

Attempted mergers of Community Transit with Everett Transit have been proposed by the Washington State Legislature and the CT Board since the formation of SNOTRAN in 1974.<ref name="SeaTimes-MergerOlympia">{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Diane |last2=Johnston |first2=Shannon |date=February 2, 1994 |title=Everett Transit, CT merger meets resistance |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940202/1893173/everett-transit-ct-merger-meets-resistance----momentum-to-join-bus-systems-coming-out-of-olympia |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> The relative success of Community Transit in the late 1970s and 1980s prompted the Community Transit Board to propose consolidation with Everett Transit in 1988, though long-term planning under SNOTRAN for both agencies worked under the assumption that there would be no merger by 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=November 10, 1988 |title=CT board talks of merging bus systems |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB53316DA3CA3A2?p=AMNEWS |url-access=subscription |via=NewsBank |page=D3 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> In 1990, a second proposal was rejected by the Everett City Council after consultants determined that a merger would only save $350,000 per year in [[Dead mileage|deadheading]] for Community Transit and that both staffs would need to be retained because of the lack of service duplication between the two agencies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=November 2, 1990 |title=Bus-system merger discounted |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19901102/1101899/bus-system-merger-discounted----consultant-can-see-no-savings |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Throughout the 1990s, successive legislative bills proposing a merger were passed through the House Transportation Committee, but failed to gain support elsewhere because of successful lobbying from the City of Everett.<ref name="SeaTimes-MergerOlympia" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=February 16, 2000 |title=Bus-merge proposals die in committee |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000216/4005045/bus-merge-proposals-die-in--committee |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> State voters approved Referendum 49 in November 1998, including state motor-vehicle excise tax revenue for city-run transit in Everett and [[Yakima Transit|Yakima]]. While Everett Transit gained $4.5&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|4500000|1998}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} in new annual funding, CT was set to lose $1&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1000000|1998}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} over the next five years in addition to the $2&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2000000|1998}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} used to operate service within Everett annually.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=November 10, 1998 |title=Ref. 49 vote fuels Everett's bus system |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19981110/2782679/ref-49-vote-fuels-everetts-bus-system----approval-to-bring-additional-money-for-city-operated-transit |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> The large cuts brought on by the passing of Initiative 695 and subsequent loss of excise tax revenue forced both agencies to consider merging in 2000,<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=June 15, 2000 |title=Everett now willing to entertain CT offer |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000615/4026722/everett-now-willing-to-entertain-ct-offer |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> with savings of an estimated $1.7&nbsp;million per year (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1700000|2001}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} according to a study commissioned by Community Transit.<ref>{{cite news |last=de Leon |first=John |date=January 3, 2001 |title=Join transit agencies to save, says study |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010103/transit03m/join-transit-agencies-to-save-says-study |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> As a result of the failed mergers, CT proposed truncating its routes at Everett city limits,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ray |first=Susanna |date=July 20, 2002 |title=Community Transit touts savings in trimming Everett routes |page=A1 |work=[[The Everett Herald]] |id={{ProQuest|333509626}} }}</ref> but ultimately decided to provide limited-stop service on its routes through Everett to the newly constructed [[Everett Station]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ray |first=Susanna |date=July 19, 2002 |title=CT limits service in Everett |page=A1 |work=The Everett Herald}}</ref> Community Transit and Everett Transit signed their first partnership agreement in 2007, with Everett helping fund Swift bus rapid transit through its service area and allowing CT to operate the route in exchange for the expansion of ET service into [[unincorporated area]]s surrounding Everett.<ref>{{cite press release|date=December 5, 2007 |title=Community Transit, Everett Transit Become Partners |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1229 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006145950/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1229 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=December 12, 2007 |title=Community Transit, Everett form 17-mile partnership |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/community-transit-everett-form-17-mile-partnership/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> The two agencies further collaborated with Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation in the construction of the South Everett Freeway Station the following year.<ref name="ST-SEFS">{{cite press release |date=September 10, 2008 |title=Innovation meets efficiency for south Everett's new median park-and-ride lot |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/SEVT-Ribboncut |location=Seattle, Washington |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>

==== Fleet expansions and new services ====
In their most recent expansion in 1997, the Snohomish County PTBA annexed the [[Eastmont, Washington|Eastmont]] and [[Silver Firs, Washington|Silver Firs]] [[census-designated place]]s between Everett and Mill Creek, as well as the [[Tulalip Indian Reservation]] west of Marysville.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=September 3, 1997 |title=Buses on ballot later this month |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970903/2558134/buses-on-ballot-later-this-month----5-areas-to-be-asked-to-join-ct-district |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 27, 1997 |title=CT sets annexation workshops |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971027/2568685/ct-sets-annexation-workshops |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> During the same year, CT awarded its $31.8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|31800000|1997}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} commuter service contract to Grosvenor Bus Lines, which would later fold into [[First Transit]], replacing their first subcontractor, [[Ryder]]/ATE Management.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 9, 1997 |title=CT to get new commuter service |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970609/2543717/ct-to-get-new-commuter-service |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 29, 2014}}</ref> The agency introduced the first [[Low-floor bus|low-floor]] [[articulated bus]]es in the United States into its fleet in 1999, purchasing 17 {{convert|60|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-long}} buses from [[New Flyer]] to improve [[accessibility]] for older and disabled riders.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 19, 1999 |title=CT phases in 17 new low-floor buses |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990419/2955963/ct-phases-in-17-new-low-floor-buses |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Service improvements throughout the 1990s, including raising service hours to over 11 million, led to ridership peaking at 8.8&nbsp;million by the end of the decade and the agency's 100 millionth rider being celebrated in April 2000.<ref>{{cite press release|date=July 22, 2004 |title=Olson Marks 10 Years of Strong Leadership |url=http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1047 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134203/http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1047 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 21, 2000 |title=100 million served by CT |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000421&slug=4016674 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101543/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000421&slug=4016674 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The passage of [[List of Washington initiatives to the people#1999|Initiative 695]] in 1999, which capped the state motor-vehicle [[excise tax]] at $30, forced transit agencies throughout the state to cut service in anticipation of lower revenue. Facing the loss of $18&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|18000000|2000}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}),{{Inflation-fn|US}} or 30 percent of its annual operating budget, Community Transit eliminated all weekend service and increased fares on its routes in February 2000.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 4, 2000 |title=Bus service cut after I-695 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000204/4002857/bus-service-cut-after-i-695 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> With the service cuts, CT began its VanGO program to donate its retired [[paratransit]] [[minibus]]es to nonprofit organizations in Snohomish County instead of auctioning them off.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vinluan |first=Frank |date=February 10, 2000 |title=CT offers free vans to ease 695 woes |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000210/4003952/ct-offers-free-vans-to-ease-695-woes |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Saturday service was reinstated in September 2000, using emergency funds approved by the CT Board,<ref>{{cite news |last=Burkitt |first=Janet |date=July 7, 2000 |title=I-695 bus cuts will be restored |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000707/4030505/i-695-bus-cuts-will-be-restored |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> while Sunday service returned in 2001 after the passage of a 0.3 percentage-point tax increase by voters in the PTBA.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burkitt |first=Janet |date=September 19, 2001 |title=Snohomish County: Transit sales tax pushing ahead |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010919/transitvote19m/snohomish-county-transit-sales-tax-pushing-ahead |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Further restoration of service came in 2003, with increased frequency and the replacement of 50 buses in the agency's fleet made possible by a [[budget surplus]] and the sales tax increase approved in 2002,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hodges |first=Jane |date=October 30, 2002 |title=Bus agency proposes increase in service |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20021030/comtran30n/bus-agency-proposes-increase-in-service |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> and in 2005, with increased fares.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwarzen |first=Christopher |date=May 11, 2005 |title=Community Transit to boost fares, routes |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050511/bus11n/community-transit-to-boost-fares-routes |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>

Community Transit introduced its current logo and [[slogan]] in 2005, replacing an older one in use since 1986 and retaining its blue-and-white color scheme, as part of the roll-out of the first [[New Flyer Invero]] buses in the United States.<ref name="CT-NewLogo">{{cite press release|date=March 1, 2005 |title=Community Transit Debuts First U.S. Invero Bus |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1088 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412124717/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1088 |archive-date=April 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|date=January 17, 2005 |title=New Flyer delivers first Inveros to US property |url=http://www.newflyer.com/index/invero_everett |location=Winnipeg, Manitoba |publisher=[[New Flyer]] Industries |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121608/http://www.newflyer.com/index/invero_everett |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> CT began a three-month [[pilot project]] in September 2005 that brought [[Wi-Fi]] access to buses on its longest route, Route 422 between Stanwood and Seattle, with hopes of attracting customers and [[remote work]]ers to its routes.<ref>{{cite press release|date=September 9, 2005 |title=Community Transit Offers WiFi Access on Select Buses |url=http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1122 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090117/http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1122 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gilmore |first=Susan |date=September 7, 2005 |title=Transit services adding Wi-Fi to buses |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transit-services-adding-wi-fi-to-buses/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> The pilot project was deemed a success and expanded into the "Surf and Ride" program on all Route 422 trips in 2006, as well as select trips on Routes 406 and 441 from Edmonds to Seattle and [[Overlake, Washington|Overlake]] on the Eastside, respectively; the Wi-Fi program was canceled in 2010, with the removal of equipment in buses brought on by low customer response, budget constraints and the adoption of improved [[cellular network]]s that support mobile browsing on [[smartphone]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Surf and Ride Wi-Fi Service |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/Programs/Wifi.cfm |url-status=dead |publisher=Community Transit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127054448/http://www.communitytransit.org/Programs/Wifi.cfm |archive-date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>

CT and First Transit signed their third and most recent contract in 2007, continuing the latter's operation of CT commuter service to Seattle.<ref>{{cite press release |date=May 1, 2007 |title=Snohomish County Community Transit Renews Contract with First Transit |url=http://www.firsttransit.com/about-us/news/news-details/2007/05/01/snohomish-county-community-transit-renews-contract-with-first-transit |location=Cincinnati, Ohio |publisher=[[First Transit]] |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> Community Transit debuted the first [[double-decker bus]]es in the Puget Sound region during a year-long test in 2007, eventually buying its own fleet of [[Alexander Dennis Enviro500]]s for its "[[#Double Tall|Double Tall]]" fleet to be used on commuter services.<ref name="CT-DT2010">{{cite press release|date=March 31, 2008 |title=Make That 23 Double Talls, Please |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1256 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903133840/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1256 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref> A PTBA expansion into the unincorporated areas of [[Cathcart, Washington|Cathcart]], [[Clearview, Washington|Clearview]] and [[Maltby, Washington|Maltby]] was attempted during the [[United States elections, 2008|2008 general elections]], but failed to gain a majority vote.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Statement of Vote – Snohomish County General Election, November 04, 2008: PTBA Annexation |url=http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1490 |format=PDF |publisher=[[Snohomish County, Washington]] |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> In November 2009, after three years of planning and a year of construction,<ref>{{cite press release |date=July 27, 2006 |title=New Bus Rapid Transit Route Called "Swift" |url=https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1170 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311083941/https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1170 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|date=November 24, 2008 |title=Swift Groundbreaking Dec. 3 |url=http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1298 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093847/http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1298 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> Community Transit debuted the first [[bus rapid transit]] line in [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Swift Bus Rapid Transit|Swift]]. The service replaced Route 100 on [[Washington State Route 99|State Route 99]] between Aurora Village in Shoreline and Everett Station, featuring 12-minute [[headway]]s, off-board fare payment and [[transit signal priority]].<ref>{{cite press release|date=November 16, 2009 |title=Swift Bus Rapid Transit to Fly on Nov. 29 |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1354 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084547/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1354 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>