Intercity Transit seeks public input on its Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan. The comment period is open now through the public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, 2012. The public hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Intercity Transit business office, 526 Pattison St. SE. Routes 62A, 62B, and 66 serve this location.
Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan
The Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan is the master planning document that will drive Intercity Transit operations and service delivery for the next six years. The plan, updated annually, highlights service concepts, resource priorities, capital investments, and policy direction for 2013-2018. It is based on population growth, regional development and financial forecasting. Included in the Strategic Plan are many broad operational policy positions that guide the agency and its vision for delivery of public transportation services for the region.
The plan’s development comes at a time when Intercity Transit faces financial uncertainty due to the continued economic downturn, significant changes in federal funding, and uncertainty over state funding. The Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan assumes state funding will remain status quo and reflects changes in federal funding including the elimination of federal discretionary grants. The plan recommends a conservative financial approach until the funding future is clearer.
Key recommendations in the Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan include:
- Examine and monitor express service levels. In response to Pierce Transit’s elimination of its express service on the I-5 corridor, Intercity Transit added a number of trips to its Olympia Express service. Sound Transit extended its commuter rail service to Lakewood in October 2012. This may increase demand for express service to and from Thurston County.
- Continue work on expanding and renovating the maintenance and operations center at Pattison Street. The facility currently operates over capacity and needs to be expanded to support fleet changes and other operational needs. Intercity Transit should develop a funding plan for this project which may include an additional 0.1 percent sales tax increase.
- Engage with transportation partners to consider alternatives for serving Joint Base Lewis McChord and the I-5 corridor.
- Complete the design and environmental work for the Olympia Transit Center expansion and begin construction. This project will increase the number of bus bays and enable Greyhound and neighboring transit systems to operate from one central transportation facility.
- Update the long- and short-range service plan.
- Obtain ISO 14001 certification for the Environmental and Sustainability Management System.
Getting more information
You can get the draft plan here, by calling Intercity Transit business office at 360-786-8585, Customer Service center at 360-786-1881 or e-mailing tellus@intercitytransit.com. Draft 2013-2018 Strategic Plan materials are also available for reference at Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm Timberland Libraries.
Providing comment
In addition to attending the October 17 public hearing, you can make comments by e-mailing tellus@intercitytransit.com, calling 360-705-5852, or mailing Intercity Transit, P.O. Box 659., Olympia, WA 98507
For your comments to be considered, Intercity Transit must receive them in advance of the public hearing by 4 p.m. on November 2.