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We want these FAQ's to be as responsive to your needs as possible, so send us your question if you don't see it answered here. We'll e-mail you a response, and, if your question is one that the rest of our riders would also want the answer to, we'll add it here.
Those we've received so far...
How are Pierce Transit's schedules affected by various holidays?
Holidays // thru Feburary 18, 2012 |
| Holidays // Pierce Transit Local Bus & SHUTTLE |
Veterans Day // 11/11/ 2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Weekday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| Thanksgiving // 11 / 24 / 2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Sunday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| Day After Thanskgiving // 11/25/2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Weekday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| Christmas Eve // 12/24/2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Saturday Schedule. Lakewood Bus Shop open 10am-2pm; phone information available 9am-5pm |
| Christmas Day // 12/25/2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Sunday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| Christmas Day Observed // 12/26/2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Sunday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| New Year's Eve // 12/31/2011 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Saturday Schedule. Lakewood Bus Shop open 10am-2pm; phone information available 9am-5pm |
| New Year's Day // 1/1/2012 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Sunday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day // 1/16/2012 |
PT Local Bus and SHUTTLE service operate on a Weekday Schedule. Bus Shops closed; no phone service. |
Regular fares on Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
Are the stops listed on the schedules the only stops the buses make on their trips?
No, buses make stops all along their routes. The stops listed in the schedules and shown on the maps are timepoints to help you determine when the bus will arrive at your stop. Express services have limited stops, and their schedules and maps show where they are.
There are a lot of dashes (---) on many schedules on your website, and in your schedule book. What's up with those?
A dash under a timepoint means the bus does not serve that particular stop on that trip.
The ORCA (One Regional Card for All) smart card is now available to simplify fare payment.
Read all about ORCA here.
Are monthly passes good on all buses, local and express?
Yes, monthly passes (called PugetPasses) are worth the trip value of the pass on any local or regional bus or train. You pay the fare difference, if any, when you ride, and if a reduced fare ID is used, it changes the amount needed. PugetPasses are "loaded" electronically on ORCA cards.
Which bus systems honor PugetPasses?
Pierce Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Sound Transit.
How long is the monthly pass good? For example, if I buy one on the 5th of the month, is it good till the 5th of the next month?
Passes are good from the first to the last day of the month only. There is no "grace" period.
Are monthly passes prorated? For example, if I buy one on the 15th and it's only good until the 30th, do I pay half price?
No. You must pay full price for a pass no matter when you buy it. If you start riding the bus frequently, but too late in the month to get full value from a pass, wish to load your ORCA card with E-purse instead.
How often do I have to ride the bus to make purchasing a monthly pass worthwhile?
All PugetPass prices are based on 18 round trips. If you ride the bus more than that, the pass is the best buy over cash or tickets.
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Where can I purchase bus tickets?
Bus tickets are no longer available to the general public. Only social service/human service agencies, schools and Pierce County Superior Court can purchase tickets.
Do bus tickets have expiration dates?
No. If you still have Pierce Transit bus tickets purchased before the restriction mentioned above (or if you acquired them from a qualified human service agency, etc.), we will honor them in perpetuity.
What does the Regional Reduced Fare Permit ID for seniors and people with disabilities entitle them to?
If you are 65 or older, or have a qualifying doctor-verified disability, you may ride for a reduced fare. You must show a valid Regional Reduced Fare Permit when paying a reduced fare. Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA card applications and permits are available at all Bus Shop locations. All permits are $3--a one-time charge (you do not have to renew your permit, unless you lose it). Please bring proof of age, S.S. I. disability award letter, VA paperwork with 40% or more disability, or a valid Medicare card.
What age does a person have to be to be eligible for the senior reduced fare ORCA card ID?
Seniors must be 65 or older to qualify.
What is a transfer?
A transfer is a slip of a paper the driver will give you, if you ask for it when you board and pay your fare with a ticket or cash. It will allow you to board another Pierce Transit bus without paying an additional fare if you board before the last time shown on the transfer.
How long are transfers good for?
Pierce Transit, transfers are good for one hour past the time your bus reaches the end of its route. For example, if you took the Route 1 bus leaving Tacoma Community College at 6:05 am and got off in Downtown Tacoma at 6:27 am, your transfer would be good until 8:29 am — an hour after the bus reaches the end of the line at the Roy "Y" at 7:29 am
Are Pierce Transit transfers good on transit systems that connect with Pierce Transit and vice-versa?
No.
I lost an item on the bus. How do I get it back?
Lost & Found is located in the Downtown Tacoma Bus Shop, 930 Commerce St. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 4 pm. Closed on holidays. Availability of items may vary depending on time of day and weather conditions. Lost and Found items are kept for two weeks only. If making a special trip to pick up an item, please call ahead to verify availability: 253.581.8149 or 253.581.8000.
Why don't all buses connect at 10th & Commerce in Downtown Tacoma?
10th and Commerce is a "transfer area", not a Transit Center. Transit Centers have timed connections where the buses arrive and depart at the same times. More than twenty routes arrive and depart from 10th and Commerce — there just isn't room for them all to meet at the same time. Therefore, there are no "guaranteed" connections at 10th and Commerce.
How long can I leave my car at a Park and Ride lot?
Commuters may park their personal vehicles for up to 24 hours.
Can I bring my bike along on Pierce Transit?
Yes — unless the bus's bike rack is full and there's not enough room on board the bus. All Pierce Transit buses are equipped with bike racks. If the rack is full, bikes may be brought aboard Pierce Transit buses — but not Sound Transit buses (For Sound Transit's bike policy go here). Cyclists are responsible for handling and assuring the security of their bikes, and must hold them throughout the trip. Your transit operator has the authority to ask you to take your bicycle off the bus should the bus become too crowded. Pierce Transit assumes no responsibility for bikes stolen or damaged while parked at a rack or locker.
Can I leave my bike at a Transit Center or Park & Ride when I ride the bus?
Yes, but Pierce Transit assumes no responsibility for bikes stolen or damaged. We strongly recommend locking your bike to a rack or renting a locker. Lockers are available for a $50 deposit and $10 per month rental fee. Keys for all lockers must be picked up at the Tacoma Dome Station Bus Shop, 505 East 25th Street, Tacoma..
How many pieces of luggage can I take aboard the airport bus?
Common sense is really the only guide; as long as they don't block the aisles or take up too much seat space, take as many pieces of luggage as you think you can comfortably handle.
Can I take an animal aboard the bus?
Only guide dogs and other certified helper animals are allowed to accompany passengers; all other animals must be in carriers.
What are the boundaries of Pierce Transit's service area, and should I care?
When Pierce County voters created the Public Transportation Benefit Authority (PTBA—later known as Pierce Transit) in 1980, its sponsors realized there were parts of the county too sparsely populated to make bus service practical. For the sake of efficiency, those areas were excluded when the boundaries of the PTBA were drawn. If you live outside the PTBA, the bad news is you probably don't have a bus route nearby. The good news is you don't have to pay the tax that supports the PTBA. Download a detailed map of Pierce Transit's service area to see if you're inside or outside our borders. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Who does the advertising on your buses?
Pierce Transit's advertising is contracted to the privately-held sales organization Titan. Contact them at the address below if you are interested in advertising on our buses or bus shelters. General questions about Pierce Transit and its services should be directed here.
Titan
4636 E Marginal Way S, Suite B-100
Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: 253.964.1849
Fax: 253.964.6149
Riding the bus may cut down on the number of cars on the road, but aren't diesel emissions bad for the environment?
True, but fortunately not a problem at Pierce Transit. Way back in 1986, we were the first transit agency in the nation to put a compressed natural gas (CNG) bus in service, and, as of 2004, our entire fleet is fueled by clean-burning CNG. Complete story here.
Who do I contact if I see suspicious or downright criminal behavior on the bus or other transit property?
If it's an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, Pierce Transit has established its own police force which can be reached at 253.983.3371 or pubsafety@piercetransit.org. More information here.
Why do I see so many empty buses on the road?
An empty or almost-empty bus may indicate a route with low ridership; often, however, you're seeing the bus at either the beginning or the end of its run (that is, before gathering most of its passengers, or after dropping most of them off). And even our most popular routes tend to see lower ridership before and after the peak commuting hours in the morning and evening.
I see some bus shelters that had glass in them are now boarded up instead. How come?
Sadly, shelters in certain areas have been the target of repeated vandalism -- and with the cost of repairs to those shelters approaching $12,000 a month, Pierce Transit decided it could no longer afford to replace the glass.
Do you use smaller buses on routes with low ridership?
We have a number of smaller buses for use where practicable. However, in our system, buses circulate among routes; after finishing a low-ridership route, a bus may immediately go on to serve one of our more popular routes. As far as expense is concerned, the cost of the fuel saved by using smaller vehicles is offset by our more rugged and reliable (and, therefore, less expensive to maintain) larger vehicles.
Does Pierce Transit connect with ferries that cross Puget Sound?
There are two ferry runs Pierce Transit connects with — Point Defiance-Vashon Island (routes 11 & 10) and Steilacoom-Anderson & Ketron Islands (route 212). The 212 also connects with the McNeil Island Prison boat which is for use only by employees and pre-approved visitors to the Special Commitment Center.
