Skagit Transit
Founded | 1993 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 600 County Shop Lane, Burlington, WA 98233-9772 |
Service area | Skagit County, WA |
Service type | bus service, dial-a-bus, vanpool |
Routes | 19 fixed-route, paratransit[1] |
Stops | 505[1] |
Hubs | Skagit Station |
Fleet | fixed-route, paratransit, vanpool[1] |
Daily ridership | 1,308[1] |
Website | www |
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.
History
[edit]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
[edit]The primary maintenance and administration facility for Skagit Transit is located in Burlington.[11]
Skagit Station
[edit]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
[edit]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.[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
[edit]Local routes
[edit]As of the May 1, 2023 service.[17]
- Route 101 - Burlington, Washington Circular
- Route 202 - Skagit Station/South MV Park & Ride
- Route 204 - Skagit Station to Skagit Highlands via Skagit Valley College
- Route 205 - Skagit Valley College to Skagit Station
- Route 206 - Skagit Station to Skagit Valley Hospital via Mount Baker Middle School
- Route 207 - Skagit Station to Walmart to Skagit Valley College
- Route 208 - Skagit Station to Chuckanut Park & Ride Burlington
- Route 300 - Sedro Woolley Circular from Sedro Woolley Park and Ride
- Route 301 - Burlington to Sedro Woolley Park & Ride from Chuckanut Park & Ride
- Route 305 - Skagit Valley College to Sedro-Woolley via Clear Lake
- Route 409 - 10th & Q Street to Island Hospital
- Route 410 - March Point Park & Ride to Anacortes ferry terminal
- Route 513 - Burlington, Washington to Anacortes, via Skagit Regional Airport from Chuckanut Park & Ride
- Route 615 - March Point Park & Ride to La Conner to Mount Vernon
- Route 717 - Concrete Park and Ride to Cape Horn to Cedar Grove
- Route 40X - Skagit Station to March's Point Park and Ride
- Route 70X - Skagit Station to Concrete Park and Ride
County Connector Routes
[edit]- Bellingham Connector (Route 80X) - Mount Vernon to Bellingham
- Everett Connector (Route 90X)- Burlington to Everett Station, via Mount Vernon
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Public Transportation Division (November 2008). Summary of Public Transportation — 2007 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^ "Skagit Transit - Routes". www.skagittransit.org. 2012-02-07. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Lerman, Rachel (November 19, 2013). "Skagit Transit ridership hits high point in October". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ a b Hixson, Russell (December 28, 2013). "Skagit Transit celebrates 20 years of bus service". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Lange, Larry (July 6, 2007). "Free bus service: Is it viable?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Public Transportation Division (August 2006). Summary of Public Transportation — 2005 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 131. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Public Transportation Division (September 2007). Summary of Public Transportation — 2006 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 107. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ "Direct bus service offered from Island and Skagit counties to Everett Station". South Whidbey Record. June 21, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Schwartz, Ralph (December 7, 2008). "Growth on transit cools, but buses remain popular". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ "Skagit Transit - General Information". www.skagittransit.org. 2007-07-07. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
- ^ "Skagit Transit - Skagit Station". www.skagittransit.org. 2007-07-07. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
- ^ "Skagit Transit - 90X Everett Connector". skat.baron-co.com. 2007-01-04. Archived from the original on January 4, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
- ^ a b "Fares". Skagit Transit. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Richardson, Vince (September 9, 2022). "Skagit Transit's Youth Ride Free program in full swing". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Skagit, Whatcom transportation authorities join fare systems to help bus riders". Skagit Valley Herald. October 12, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Skagit Transit Routes webpage". Skagit Transit. Retrieved May 1, 2023.