Welcome

Below is a simple guide to help you with various trip planner functions, both on desktop and mobile.

Navigation

Clicking or tapping the Pierce Transit logo will open a new browser tab and take you to the Pierce Transit homepage.

Clicking or tapping the three horizontal lines will display a pop out menu.

Menu Descriptions

Home - navigates to the Pierce Transit homepage in a new browser tab.

Next Departures - navigates to the Next Departures screen.

Trip Planning - navigates to the Trip Planning screen.

Alerts - produces the alerts popup screen.

Help - produces the text-based popup screen.

Step-by-Step Tutorial – navigates to a tutorial with graphics on the Pierce Transit website in a new browser tab.

Feedback – navigates to a general feedback page on the Pierce Transit website in a new browser tab.

View Tour Window – displays the “onboarding” screens.

Two Ways to Plan Your Trip

1. Type an origin and destination. Locations will appear as you type, or they will already be listed due to previous entries.

NOTE: Origin and destinations may be entered as an address, intersection, landmark, or stop ID.

2. Using the map. Left-click from a desktop, laptop computer, or tapping on the map if on a touch screen device and selecting From Here. Then pan the map to a destination and left click or tap on the map once again and choose To Here (or vice versa).

Trip Planning Results

Once an origin and destination have been entered, the trip planner will find itineraries that best match the query. The resulting itineraries will be listed as well as displayed graphically on the map. The trip will show itineraries found.

The initial results list only a summary of each itinerary, including suggested departure and arrival times, trip duration, and which routes are involved.

Select view details to expand an itinerary for more information, including transfers, stop information, walking time and instructions, and fares.

To return to the list of itinerary summaries, select the arrow to the left of itinerary details.

TIP: Making even a slight change to the time of travel, using an intersection, landmark, or stop ID instead of an address, or using or revising other trip planning options will likely provide different results and may improve them. Trip planner users are encouraged to try various features and input for the best possible results.

trip planning results trip found

trip planning results trip itinerary display

To view fares, tap or click on the show fare button. A popup will appear showing the fare breakdown.

Pierce Transit fares

In the Itinerary details, to submit a help ticket, tap or click the feedback button. This feature will enable you to provide information to our support staff if you feel there is an issue with an itinerary or have a question. Fill in the necessary information and click or tap submit.

itinerary details to submit feedback

Trip Planning Options

Select the gear icon next to the origin and destination fields for trip planning options to refine your query with the Trip Planning Options screen. Specify or revise options for trip times, travel dates, modes of travel, walking distance, route preferences, accessibility, or Point to Point.

Point to Point

When selected in trip planning options, the Point to Point feature produces a custom schedule of direct service (no transfers) between your origin and destination.

Results will list routes that travel directly between or close to your two designated points. Results may vary depending upon user-selected options and time of day.

gear icon links to settings provides trip planning options

Routes

Located on the Next Departures screen (or tab), the right-side pull-out menu labeled Routes provides information about specific routes, including the route map, stops, schedules, and next departure times. Vehicle locations are displayed on the route map for routes with available real-time information.

Select routes for a list of active routes that can be filtered by transit agency, service type, or search for a specific route.

3panel

Agency Selection

Select one or more routes to display the route path(s) and stops on the map.

select route next departures

Selecting details for a chosen route will display more information and access to the route schedule. The route schedule includes all stops and is viewable in a timetable format. Smaller screen devices are limited to display up to three selected stops.

select one or more routes

Schedule (based on the current time)

displays sample schedule

Selecting the vertical ellipsis will allow you to edit the date and time to view a different portion of the timetable.

can edit date and time

On the map, select any stop along a displayed route path to show the next departure times for that stop. Clicking or tapping the orange triangle will display an alert.

displays sample stop times

Available vehicle location icons displayed on a selected route path are color-coded:

Red = late

Green = early

Blue = on time

Selecting a vehicle icon will display additional information specific to that vehicle.

select vehicle displays more info

Alerts

Route alerts are available and can be viewed to see if it affects your trip. Click or tap on alerts. The resulting screen will show a list of service alerts. Stop alerts are also available. These alerts will also appear as orange triangles in trip plans and route information screens.

Example service alert (expanded).

example service alert

Support Contacts

Link to support: https://www.piercetransit.org/contact-us/

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