Skagit Transit

Last updated
Skagit Transit
Skagit Transit Logo.svg
Founded1993
Headquarters600 County Shop Lane, Burlington, WA 98233-9772
Service area Skagit County, WA
Service type bus service, dial-a-bus, vanpool
Routes19 fixed-route, paratransit [1]
Stops505 [1]
Hubs Skagit Station
Fleetfixed-route, paratransit, vanpool [1]
Daily ridership1,308 [1]
Website www.skagittransit.org

Skagit Transit is a public transit system in Skagit County, Washington, US. It operates 19 fixed-route bus routes, as well as paratransit and vanpool services across the entire county. [2] The agency was founded in 1993 and is funded by a 0.4 percent local sales tax.

Contents

History

The Skagit County public transportation benefit area, funded by a 0.2 percent sales tax, was approved by voters in Mount Vernon and Burlington in November 1992. [3] Bus service began on November 3, 1993, with a network of four routes serving the two cities and no fares. [4] [5] The cities of Anacortes, La Conner, and Sedro-Woolley were annexed into the Skagit Transit service area in 1994, followed by Bayview and Concrete in 1995. [3]

Service was cut after the passage of Initiative 695 in 2000. A sales tax increase to restore service was rejected by voters in 2002; [4] [5] as a result, the agency began charging fares. [6] Skagit Transit began operating inter-county routes to Island and Whatcom counties in 2005, [7] and expanded with a Mount Vernon–Everett commuter route in 2006 part-funded by Island Transit and the state government. [8] [9] The agency also took ownership of Skagit Station in Mount Vernon, which is served by Amtrak Cascades and Island Transit. [7] A 0.2 percent sales tax increase was approved by voters in the November 2008 election, allowing for expanded service. [10]

Facilities

The primary maintenance and administration facility for Skagit Transit is located in Burlington. [11]

Skagit Station

A multimodal station [12] serviced by Greyhound, Amtrak Cascades, Bellingham Connector (Whatcom Transportation Authority), Island Connector (Island Transit) and Everett Express which connects with Sounder commuter rail in Everett. [13]

Fares

Regular fares for adults are $1 each way on local routes and $2 on County Connector routes; reduced fares for senior citizens, veterans, and people with disabilities are half the regular fare. [14] Since 2022, youth fares on Skagit Transit have been free as part of a statewide program funded by the Climate Commitment Act. [15] The agency also offers day passes and monthly passes for both regular and reduced fares. [14] Fares can be paid with cash or the Umo fare card and smartphone app, which is shared with the Whatcom Transportation Authority. [16]

Bus routes

A Gillig Low Floor on Route 90X, at Everett Station after the arrival of a Sounder run from Seattle. SKAT 141 at Everett Station.jpg
A Gillig Low Floor on Route 90X, at Everett Station after the arrival of a Sounder run from Seattle.

Local routes

As of the May 1, 2023 service. [17]

County Connector Routes

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Public Transportation Division (November 2008). Summary of Public Transportation — 2007 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Skagit Transit - Routes". www.skagittransit.org. 2012-02-07. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  3. 1 2 Public Transportation and Rail Division (September 1997). Public Transportation Systems in Washington State, 1996 Summary (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 99. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Lerman, Rachel (November 19, 2013). "Skagit Transit ridership hits high point in October". Skagit Valley Herald . Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Hixson, Russell (December 28, 2013). "Skagit Transit celebrates 20 years of bus service". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  6. ↑ Lange, Larry (July 6, 2007). "Free bus service: Is it viable?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Public Transportation Division (August 2006). Summary of Public Transportation — 2005 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 131. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  8. ↑ Public Transportation Division (September 2007). Summary of Public Transportation — 2006 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 107. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Direct bus service offered from Island and Skagit counties to Everett Station". South Whidbey Record. June 21, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  10. ↑ Schwartz, Ralph (December 7, 2008). "Growth on transit cools, but buses remain popular". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Skagit Transit - General Information". www.skagittransit.org. 2007-07-07. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  12. ↑ "Skagit Transit - Skagit Station". www.skagittransit.org. 2007-07-07. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  13. ↑ "Skagit Transit - 90X Everett Connector". skat.baron-co.com. 2007-01-04. Archived from the original on January 4, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  14. 1 2 "Fares". Skagit Transit. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ Richardson, Vince (September 9, 2022). "Skagit Transit's Youth Ride Free program in full swing". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Skagit, Whatcom transportation authorities join fare systems to help bus riders". Skagit Valley Herald. October 12, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Skagit Transit Routes webpage". Skagit Transit. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
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