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Pierce Transit Key Messages & Topics June 2022
Masks are no longer required to be worn on board buses and at transit facilities. Customers may choose to wear a mask; we will have disposable masks available on board buses. Note that Pierce Transit is still providing free rides to COVID vaccine appointments or vaccination sites, including for those riders getting their vaccine booster shot.
Gig Harbor Route 100 Summer Service
- Like other transit agencies around the nation and the region, Pierce Transit is experiencing a shortage of bus drivers.
- While we are working hard to recruit new drivers, and have training classes underway, we still will not have the workforce this summer that we would need to provide service outside our standard routes.
- So unfortunately, due to this Pierce Transit driver shortage, the Gig Harbor Trolley service will not run in 2022.
- To at least provide a Trolley presence in the community, Pierce Transit is using trolley-wrapped buses on the Route 100 throughout the summer.
- An extra stop in Uptown has been added to the Route 100 for the summer season.
- Standard Pierce Transit fares are collected on Route 100:
- Single rides are $2.00/adult, $1.00/youth
- All Day Pass is $5.00/adult, $2.50/youth
- Youth 5 and under ride free with a fare-paying passenger
- ORCA cards and the Passage Transit Ticketing mobile app may also be used to pay fares
Summer Youth Pass: Get Yours Today
- Get ready for summertime fun with some summertime savings!
- Add a PT summer youth pass to a youth ORCA card or phone for only $36. Riders age 18 and under will receive unlimited rides June 1 – August 31 on Pierce Transit service.
- Use a phone:
- Download the “Passage” Transit Ticketing app on a smart phone and purchase Pierce Transit’s Summer Youth Pass.
- When ready to ride, just activate the pass and show the driver.
- Use an ORCA card:
- The Summer Youth Pass can be loaded on a youth ORCA card and the first card is free!
- A Summer Youth Pass may be loaded on an existing ORCA card for just $36.
- When summer’s over, hang onto the card – it’s reusable.
- Get a youth ORCA card:
- In Person: visit the Tacoma Dome Station Bus Shop at 505 E. 25th Street. Check PierceTransit.org/customer-service for hours. Bring proof of age (or send an adult with child’s proof of age) – must be age 18 or younger.
- By Mail:
- Download and print an order form from myORCA.com
- Check the “Youth ORCA card” option
- Include birth date, and indicate “Pierce Transit Summer Youth Pass.”
- Mail payment and a copy of proof of age with the form—it will be returned with the order.
- In Person: visit the Tacoma Dome Station Bus Shop at 505 E. 25th Street. Check PierceTransit.org/customer-service for hours. Bring proof of age (or send an adult with child’s proof of age) – must be age 18 or younger.
New and Improved ORCA is here
- Paying for local and regional transit rides is now faster and easier with the new myORCA website and mobile app.
- The next generation of ORCA improves the rider experience offering:
- A mobile app and improved website to manage your account
- Ability to instantly load value and products to your ORCA account
- More retail locations to buy ORCA cards and add value
- You can still use your current ORCA card; just be sure to set up a new account at myORCA.com or on the mobile app.
- Further enhancements, new cards and more features will roll out later this year.
New Vanpool Fares: Commuting Just Got Easier
- Everyone is talking about the price of gas, and how to drive less.
- One way more people are doing that, especially as they return to the office after COVID, is by joining a vanpool.
- Vanpools work this way:
- Pierce Transit provides the van, and maintains it.
- Pierce Transit pays for the gas.
- Riders pay a reasonable fare that is much less than the cost of driving alone.
- The timing is perfect to join or start a vanpool, thanks to new improvements in the program.
- Recent changes to state rules mean you can start a vanpool with just 3 people.
- Pierce Transit’s new vanpool fares are easy to understand, and vanpooling is more flexible with new options to ride daily or as needed.
- Joining a vanpool also reduces wear and tear on your car, gives you access to the HOV lane, and reduces the stress of driving.
For vanpool formation information, and to see what vanpools are available to join, or to start your own, please visit PierceTransit.org/Vanpool.
Free Youth Transit Pass Starting This Fall
- Thanks to funding provided through the State Legislature’s Move Ahead Washington transportation package, youth ages 18 and under will ride fare free on public transit this Fall throughout our region.
- Regional transit partners, including Pierce Transit, are working on the details of this benefit and more information will be available soon.
Pierce Transit’s Podcast Offers Inside Scoop
- Pierce Transit hosts a monthly podcast, with the goal of giving the public a chance to learn more about what we do behind the scenes at Pierce Transit.
- This South Sound Connected podcast showcases the work of various departments and partners that help get services to our community.
- Listen to the latest episode and subscribe to South Sound Connected, available on Spotify and at PierceTransit.org in the “Transit News” feed.
Runner Reaches to Port, Base and Beaches
- Looking for a way to get to Dune Peninsula this summer? Need a ride to the PX? Work at the Port and want to grab lunch downtown?
- Pierce Transit Runner is an on-demand service that offers a quick, car-free transportation solution, typically in areas with limited transit options.
- Requests for a ride are made using an app or by making a phone call. The service is offered via vans which are wheelchair accessible and equipped with a ramp so mobility devices can come on board.
- There are currently three Runner zones serving Pierce County, providing connections to Ruston, the Tideflats and JBLM.
- We expect to unveil another Runner service in the Spanaway/Parkland/Midland area soon, which will be especially helpful to seniors and those with limited mobility options.
- For more information on Runner services, including hours and fares, visit PierceTransit.org/Runner.
Looking for Enthusiastic New Team Members
- Pierce Transit is conducting the agency’s largest-ever bus driver recruitment campaign, tapping new channels and sources to recruit new members to our team.
- We are also seeking new employees to join our Public Safety team and in Maintenance.
- Pierce Transit has open administrative jobs, such as Division Assistant, Information Technology Specialist, and Senior Planner.
- If you know someone looking for a rewarding, family-wage job with excellent benefits and training, please encourage them to visit PierceTransit.org/careers to apply.
Moving Forward
When we say the safety of our riders and employees is our top priority, we mean it. As soon as COVID-19 hit we took immediate action implementing safety measures and precautions to keep our operators and riders safe and provide them with peace of mind. You’ll see our commitment to reconnecting you to life throughout Pierce Transit's service area. We want to point out some things that may look a little different next time you ride.