About Us

A Message from Pierce Transit CEO Mike Griffus

Pierce Transit is proud to serve our community as Pierce County’s local public transportation service. In 2019 we provided more than 9 million rides to people headed to work, medical appointments, entertainment, grocery shopping, visits with friends and other destinations. In 2020, even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pierce Transit was still providing more than 9,000 rides each weekday, proving once again that transit is an essential service. I am proud to serve as Pierce Transit’s CEO and hope you will join me on board soon to experience our exceptional service.

Our Mission is to Serve

Pierce Transit improves people’s quality of life by providing safe, reliable, innovative and useful transportation services that are locally based and regionally connected.

A Brief History

Founded in 1979, Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (Pierce Transit) is a nationally recognized leader in the public transportation industry. Pierce Transit covers 292 square miles of Pierce County with roughly 70% of the county population. Serving Washington’s second largest county, Pierce Transit provides three types of service, Fixed Route, SHUTTLE paratransit and Vanpools that help get passengers to jobs, schools and appointments.

A Board Guides Our Actions

Pierce Transit is governed by a ten-member Board of Commissioners. The Board is made up of elected officials representing thirteen jurisdictions, Pierce County and one non-voting Union Representative. Learn more here

Executive Finance Committee (EFC)

The Executive - Finance Committee (EFC) is comprised of four members of the Board of Commissioners. The Committee serves as a sounding board to the Agency on various policy matters and approves contracts up to its allowed authority established by the Board of Commissioners. Learn more here

Service Delivery and Capital Committee

The Service Delivery and Capital (SDCC) Committee is comprised of four voting members of the Board of Commissioners and one non-voting member appointed from the Pierce Transit Community Transportation Advisory Group (CTAG). The SDCC’s role is to provide additional oversight on items such as the operational service needs of the system, the customer experience and significant capital projects. Learn more here.

CTAG

The Pierce Transit Community Transportation Advisory Group (CTAG) is a nine-member advisory group that provides input to the Board of Commissioners. It was chartered to offer an opportunity for community stakeholders to provide feedback and suggest improvements and recommendations on plans, policies, and services offered by Pierce Transit. Learn more here.

Key Performance Indicators

One of the best ways to ensure an organization is constantly improving is to track “Key Performance Indicators,” or KPIs. KPIs are a set of quantifiable measures that an organization uses to gauge its performance and determine if it is meeting its strategic and operational goals. Pierce Transit is very much focused on using KPIs to help us know whether we are moving toward attaining our goals and, if not, where to focus our attention.

By using KPIs to track our progress, we are able to make data-driven decisions that better serve our customers and the people of Pierce County who fund the services we provide.

Financing

Primary sources of operating and capital revenue:

0.6% Local Sales Tax
Passenger Fares
Federal Transit Administration
Sound Transit for regional service
Pierce Transit is a separate municipal corporation, not part of the City of Tacoma, Sound Transit, or Pierce County.

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