Editing Community Transit (section)

=== Service restoration and COVID-19 pandemic ===

The [[Great Recession in the United States|Great Recession]] of the late 2000s and subsequent loss of an estimated $180&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|180000000|2010}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} in sales tax revenue in Snohomish County forced CT to cut service by 15 percent in June 2010, including the elimination of all service on Sundays and [[Public holidays in the United States|major holidays]], to save $16&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|16000000|2010}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|US}} until 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=June 6, 2010 |title=Community Transit gives away vans; to cut service |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100606/NEWS01/706069887 |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306141503/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100606/NEWS01/706069887 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> A second cut, with 20 percent of service eliminated, took place in February 2012;<ref>{{cite press release|date=September 1, 2011 |title=Board Selects Hybrid Service Alternative |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1465 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131403/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1465 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> the CT Board rejected a major restructure that would have truncated its northern and eastern express service to Seattle at [[Lynnwood Transit Center]] during this cut, instead opting to preserve its commuter service.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Service Change: Commuter Comparison Chart |year=2011 |url=http://communitytransit.org/News/2012SystemChangeCommuterServiceChart/ |url-status=dead |publisher=Community Transit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813221059/http://communitytransit.org/News/2012SystemChangeCommuterServiceChart/ |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>

Despite the decline in service hours, Community Transit and [[Sound Transit]] had record ridership for Snohomish County routes during the [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] parade in Downtown Seattle in February 2014, carrying a total of 22,500 passengers on 50 extra trips into Seattle.<ref>{{cite press release|date=February 6, 2014 |title=Public transportation teamwork moved unprecedented number of Seahawks fans and commuters |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/Transportation-teamwork-for-Seahawks-parade-02062014 |location=Seattle, Washington |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006160604/http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/Transportation-teamwork-for-Seahawks-parade-02062014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> In March, the [[2014 Oso mudslide]] destroyed a portion of [[Washington State Route 530|State Route 530]] and forced CT to re-route its service to Darrington through [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]], offering one-seat service to [[Smokey Point, Washington|Smokey Point]] and Everett Station in the interim as Route 231.<ref>{{cite press release|date=March 26, 2014 |title=Emergency Darrington Bus Service |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1555 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006145749/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1555 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> The partial reopening of State Route 530 in June and full reopening in September restored the original Route 230 on its original route, now extended to Smokey Point.<ref>{{cite press release|date=May 28, 2014 |title=Darrington Service Returns to Hwy 530 June 9; Route 231 Will End |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1564 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006151216/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1564 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>

Community Transit began restoring cut service in September 2014, adding 13 percent of its former bus hours primarily to improve midday service.<ref>{{cite press release|date=September 11, 2014 |title=New Bus Service Begins September 29 |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1577 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=September 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115042/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1577 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> In June 2015, CT restored its Sunday and holiday service as part of a 27,000-hour expansion, representing 20 percent of the 2010 reduction, funded by recovering sales tax revenue and a 25-cent increase in fares the following month.<ref>{{cite press release|date=May 7, 2015 |title=Sunday Service Is Coming Back! |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1605 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=June 10, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612105412/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1605 |archive-date=June 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="FareIncrease">{{cite press release |date=September 18, 2018 |title=Local Bus, DART Paratransit Fares Rising 25 Cents on Oct. 1 |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news/news-releases/community-transit-news/2018/09/18/local-bus-dart-paratransit-fares-rising-25-cents-on-oct.-1 |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=March 11, 2019 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511220202/https://www.communitytransit.org/news/news-releases/community-transit-news/2018/09/18/local-bus-dart-paratransit-fares-rising-25-cents-on-oct.-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The agency was given approval from the state legislature in July 2015 to increase [[sales tax]]es by an additional 0.3%, dependent on voter approval via a [[referendum|ballot measure]] during the November 2015 election that was eventually won, to fund a new Swift line as well as local service expansion.<ref>{{cite press release|date=July 16, 2015 |title=Community Transit Board Sends Sales Tax Measure to November Ballot |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1616 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815001844/http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1616 |archive-date=August 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=November 10, 2015 |title=CEO Outlines "New Transit Legacy" for Snohomish County |url=https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1631 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185937/https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1631 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> The second Swift route, the [[Swift Green Line|Green Line]], opened on March 24, 2019, and cost $73&nbsp;million to construct. It connects the Seaway Transit Center, a new facility next to the Boeing Everett Factory, to Mill Creek and Canyon Park in Bothell.<ref>{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Swift Green Line starts rolling, from Bothell to Boeing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/swift-green-line-starts-rolling-from-bothell-to-boeing/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Social distancing signs on a ST Express bus.jpg|thumb|right|A [[social distancing]] sign on a Community Transit-operated [[Sound Transit Express]] bus in April 2020]]

The agency, like most in the United States, saw major declines in ridership beginning in March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)|COVID-19 pandemic]] and widespread use of [[remote work]]. Daily ridership declined from 40,000 in February to 16,500 by late March, with an 80&nbsp;percent decline in ridership on commuter routes to Seattle. Community Transit implemented stricter cleaning and screening standards and suspended the collection of fares. Passengers were required to use the rear door of buses, with the exception of those requiring accessible seating, and some seats were cordoned off.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=March 21, 2020 |title=Local transit won't release routes of drivers with COVID-19 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/local-transit-wont-release-routes-of-drivers-with-covid-19/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=March 16, 2020 |title=Buses get disinfectant spray, wipedowns as riders stay home |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/buses-get-disinfectant-spray-wipedowns-as-riders-stay-home/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref> By May, 35&nbsp;percent of service had been cancelled or suspended, including several commuter routes that had no passengers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=May 4, 2020 |title=Even in a pandemic, buses and transit keeps rolling |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/even-in-a-pandemic-buses-and-transit-keeps-rolling/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref> Fare collection resumed on July 1 after an estimated $4.2 million in revenue had been lost due to the lack of fares and lower retail activity; by June, Community Transit was carrying an average of 12,500 riders per day—a 66&nbsp;percent decline from normal figures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=June 22, 2020 |title=Bus fare is on its way back across Snohomish County |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/bus-fare-is-on-its-way-back-across-snohomish-county/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref> The agency's return to fare collection and front door use was criticized by drivers, who had also requested the installation of plexiglass barriers for the driver compartment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=July 5, 2020 |title=Community Transit drivers: Too soon to open the front doors |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-drivers-too-soon-to-open-the-front-doors/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref>