Pierce Transit Wins Award for Daffodil Bus

Pierce Transit’s award winning Marketing Department has done it again, winning a First Place Award for the 2008 Daffodil Festival Bus in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 29th Annual AdWheel Awards. The awards recognize APTA member organizations for excellence in advertising, communication, marketing, and promotions.

A 40-foot bus was fully wrapped with a scene depicting an expansive field of yellow daffodils beneath a brilliant blue sky. Eight children, ages two through six, are pictured on the sides and back of the bus in playful poses, holding daffodils. They are all children of Pierce Transit employees. The bus was designed by Senior Marketing Design Specialist Lorie Bartnes and the children’s photography was done by Community Relations Coordinator Lind Simonsen.

The bus made its public appearance debut at the Junior Daffodil Parade on April 5, and the Grand Floral Parade on April 12. Every day the bus is assigned to different routes throughout the Pierce Transit service area, on any given day it can appear anywhere within the Pierce Transit 417 square-mile service area.

Pierce Transit will be recognized at a special ceremony during the October APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO 2008 in San Diego.

A photo of the award winning 2008 Pierce Transit Daffodil Festival Bus can be seen here.

Proposed New Park & Ride in the Gig Harbor Community

Pierce Transit recently reviewed the Peninsula Park and Ride project from a design approval, land acquisition, and constructability perspective. The review focused on the project’s new park and ride lot west of SR16, the in-line transit station in the median of SR16, and new security enhancements at the existing Kimball Park and Ride lot.

Earlier this month the Pierce Transit Capital Development Department communicated the results of this review to the Board of Commissioners, Executive Staff, and the Agency’s Leadership Team. Staff received favorable feedback at these meetings. As a result, the scope of the Peninsula Park and Ride project was modified on July 15, 2008 to reduce project costs and to start construction Fall 2009. It is anticipated that these modifications will save several million dollars. Below is a summary of the project elements that have been updated:

Scope:

• Constructing 180-225 parking stalls on the west side of SR16, increasing the total capacity of Gig Harbor Park and Ride lots by 65%.
  
• Retaining the pedestrian bridge over SR16.
  
• Incorporating closed circuit security cameras into the existing Kimball Drive Park and Ride.
  
• Deferring the Median Transit Station until such time as the SR16 HOV lanes are completed.
  
• Adding two new Flyer Stops, or freeway bus stops, into the project (subject to WSDOT design approval).
  
• Shortening the construction timeline from two construction phases into one.

Schedule:

• Ground breaking and building demolition: Fall/winter 2008
  
• Advertise for construction: Summer 2009
  
• Actual construction: Fall 2009
  
• Ready for Use – Fall 2010

If you have questions regarding this update, contact; either Louise Bray, Vice President, Planning, Policy, and Public Affairs, at 253-983-3325 or lbray@piercetransit.org, or Gregg Snyder, Vice President, Capital Development, at 253-983-3442 or gsnyder@piercetransit.org.

	Tacoma Farmers Market – Local, tasty, fun! Thursdays through October 16: Broadway between 9th & 11th. Hours, 9am-2pm. Served by routes 1, 2, 3, 11, 13, 16, 26, 28, 41, 42, 45, 48, 53, 60, 61, 65, 102, 490, 500, 501, 603 & 603A. Saturdays through November 1: N. 27th & Proctor. Hours, 9am-2pm. Served by routes 11, 13, 16 & 51.

New Lakewood Bus Shop open

Customer Service and sales are in the downstairs lobby of Pierce Transit's Building 5 (also known as the Training Center), 3720 96th St. SW, Lakewood, WA.

Customer Service hours are 8:00 am - Noon and 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Weekdays; 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturdays.

Phone information hours are 6:30 am - 6:00 pm Weekdays; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturdays.