Reduced bus service in Fife?

courtesy of Pierce Transit

ROUTE #501 (LEFT) ROUTE #500 (LEFT)

Without a boost in revenue soon, Pierce Transit may be forced to cut local bus service in Fife.

Tina Lee, a senior planner with Pierce Transit, presented the organization’s conceptual plans for drastically reducing local bus service throughout Fife, Milton and Edgewood. The two major routes that may be eliminated are 500 (running from Federal Way to Tacoma via Pacific Highway through Fife) and 501 (running from Federal Way to Tacoma via 70th and Valley Avenue, 20th and 54th Avenue and Emerald and Meridian avenues in Edgewood).

In addition to major reductions in the East Pierce County region, service would also be eliminated in Northeast Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Steilacoom under the prospective cuts scenario.

“Our revenue stream is just not stable right now,” Lee told Fife City Council members at their March 9 meeting.

Nearly 70 percent of Pierce Transit’s revenue is generated through sales tax. Riders’ fares and grants make up the rest. The recession hit the organization hard. Lee told the council that the organization is currently dipping into its reserves to cover ongoing operation costs. If revenue trends continue, Pierce Transit is facing a budget deficit of nearly $68 million in 2012.

“People have chosen to cut back on their spending. That’s hit us the hardest,” Lee said.

Despite a dwindling budget, Pierce Transit has continued to see an increase in riders, Lee explained. Last year, the agency recorded 15.6 million passenger boardings, up nearly 15 percent from 2006. For routes in East Pierce County region, Pierce Transit recorded about 18,400 riders per month board route 501. And about 35,000 riders board route 500 per month.

“In better times we would never consider cutting this route,” Lee said.

Pierce Transit is currently examining several alternatives if there are service reductions in Fife. Some possible options include reliance on Sound Transit express routes or riders departing at Tacoma stops and utilizing limited routes via Pierce Transit shuttles.

Fife city staff is concerned that reduced or eliminated bus service could have detrimental impacts to the city’s workforce. Fife, a city with a live-in population of about 8,000, grows to a population of about 15,000 during a weekday. City Manager Steve Worthington hopes Pierce Transit will keep in mind the economic development impacts service cuts could potentially have.

“We’re a large job center for the region. Maintaining public transportation for jobs is vital,” Worthington said.

Mayor Barry Johnson expres-sed concerns about the city’s low-income residents, who often rely on Fife’s routes as their

primary mode of transportation. He noted that it could be difficult for them to get back into town from Tacoma, with no direct stops.

“At a time when funding is most needed, rider ship is also increasing,” Councilmember Don Alveshere said. “There’s an irony in that and it’s frustrating.”

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