Following voter approval of a ballot measure to increase revenue for transit service in Snohomish County, Community Transit has announced its first service additions, scheduled for the March 2016 service change.

The recently passed Proposition 1 will increase sales tax by 0.3 percent in the Community Transit service district, which includes much of Snohomish County excluding Everett. The Washington State Department of Revenue estimates the average Snohomish County resident will pay an additional $33 a year. The tax will be collected starting April 1, 2016 and the agency will begin receiving the new revenue in June.

Community Transit will use reserve funds to pay for about 3,300 hours of new service beginning on March 13, 2016. The service additions include 15 new bus trips, six extended trips and earlier/later travel times.

“We promised to take immediate steps to increase service,” said Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath. “These modest changes are the first step toward delivering on that promise, with more service to follow in September 2016 and beyond.”

The March additions fall into three categories: more commuter service, extended span of service and improved midday service. Times listed are approximate.

More commuter service
Route 413 (Swamp Creek-Seattle) – One weekday southbound trip will be added at 5:48 a.m.
Route 415 (Seattle-North Lynnwood) – One weekday northbound trip will be added at 3:15 p.m.
Route 421 (Marysville-Seattle) – One weekday southbound trip will be added at 5:15 a.m.
Route 435 (Seattle-Mill Creek) – One weekday northbound trip will be added at 3:55 p.m.

Extended span of service
Swift (Everett Station-Aurora Village) – Two early morning trips are being added to the Swift bus rapid transit line along Highway 99. One new trip will run in each direction starting at 4:40 a.m.
Route 240 (Stanwood-Smokey Point) – One weeknight eastbound trip will be added, leaving Stanwood at 8:25 p.m.
Route 271 (Gold Bar-Everett) – One weeknight westbound trip will be added, leaving Gold Bar at 8:55 p.m.

Improved midday service
Route 112 (Mountlake Terrace-Ash Way) – Seven weekday trips will be added between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to provide 30-minute service on this busy route throughout the day until 7 p.m.

Extended trips
Route 880 (Mukilteo-University District) – All trips extended to Mukilteo Ferry Terminal

This improvement provides both more commuter service and extended span of service. Currently, about half of Route 880’s trips are truncated to start or end in North Lynnwood. Those six trips will be extended all the way to the Mukilteo Ferry Dock, increasing connections for Mukilteo residents to Lynnwood and the University District in the early morning and afternoon.

“Early next year, Community Transit will propose a more substantial service increase for public comment and board approval,” said Heath. “That larger service increase will go into effect in September 2016 and will require more buses and drivers, so more lead time is needed.”