People working on or near the Capitol campus and those visiting during this year’s legislative activity have a number of options available to assist them with transportation and parking in the Capitol city.
Intercity Transit, Thurston County’s public transportation agency, provides transit services to and from the Capitol Campus and many other State offices in the region. Express bus service, park and ride lots, vanpools and carpool matching services are available for longer distance commuters. The transit provider also connects with Amtrak train service and other public transportation systems in the South Puget Sound region, including Sound (Regional, including Seattle), Pierce (Tacoma), Mason (Shelton) and Grays Harbor (Aberdeen) Transit systems.
Free Shuttle & Downtown Parking
The popular downtown shuttle service, known as Dash, provides frequent service operation throughout the 2011 legislative session which begins January 10, and throughout the year. The service was established five years ago to enhance access to and from destinations in downtown Olympia and the state Capitol Campus. Dash eases parking and congestion issues prevalent during the busy legislative session.
The shuttle service provided on four brightly colored 30-foot coach vehicles operates weekdays every twelve minutes between 6:45am and 7:15pm. The Dash shuttle provides easy to use travel for people working, shopping, visiting or recreating in downtown Olympia. It routes along numerous satellite parking lots, including those on the Capitol Campus (at the southern end of the shuttle route) and at the Market District (at the northern end of the route).
“Our downtown businesses love Dash,” states Connie Lorenz, Director of the Olympia Downtown Association. “The service helps state workers and legislators and makes it easy for people to pop downtown for lunch or to run errands without having to mess with parking.”
The Dash service is a small part of the transportation arsenal Intercity Transit provides to South Sound travelers. Other award-winning services of the nationally recognized system include a fixed-route transit system with 15-minute frequency along the area’s major corridors; express service between Olympia, Lacey and Tacoma; vanpool and rideshare services; and specialized van transportation programs.
Transit Routes
Intercity Transit operates 15-minute bus service along main corridors in Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwaer. This makes transit convenient and reliable for thousands of riders usin the system every day.
Along with the Dash shuttle, three other Intercity Transit routes operate on Capitol Way traveling past the Capitol Campus. Routes 12, 13, and 68 together provide service every 15 minutes, and serve many state offices including Labor and Industries, the Department of Health, the Edna Lucille Goodrich Building, Point Plaza West and Point Plaza East.
Parking is available on the west side of Capitol Lake along Deschutes Parkway. Bus service along this corridor on Routes 43 and 44 run every 15 minutes and connect commuters either to downtown Olympia, or to west Olympia destinations including the Thurston County Courthouse, South Puget Sound Community College and the Westfield Mall.
The Olympia Transit Center in downtown Olympia is the transit system’s largest hub. Riders can make connections to 22 different routes serving destinations near and far in Tumwater, Lacey, West Olympia, Yelm, and beyond. Commuters may also connect with neighboring Pierce, Grays Harbor and Mason Transit systems. Approximately 15,000 riders use Intercity Transit each day.
Several commuter express routes travel past the Capitol Campus and through downtown Olympia. Express bus service travels to and from Tacoma and connects with other transit services for transportation to Seattle and beyond.
Service between Lacey and Olympia is available every 15 minutes on Routes 62A and 62B, operating along Martin Way. Several other routes also offer a high level of service in the area.
Regular fares apply on routes except the Dash shuttle which is fare-free. Local service costs $1 per ride and $2 for an all-day pass. Service to Tacoma or beyond costs a bit more.
Pass Programs
The State Agency Rider (STAR) Pass program enables state workers, legislators and session staff unlimited Intercity Transit use and requires no payment at the farebox. Intercity Transit also coordinates similar free-ride contracted pass programs for Thurston County employees, and students of The Evergreen State College, South Puget Sound Community College and Saint Martin’s University.
Park & Ride
Park and ride lots served by Intercity Transit buses include Martin Way, just off I-5 in Lacey and at the Amtrak Centennial Station on Yelm Highway.
Vanpool seats and carpool matching is also available to people interested in sharing their commutes. Intercity Transit staff can match commuters according to their schedules and travel needs by calling 360.786.8800. Commuters can also find a rideshare partner on their own by visiting www.RideshareOnline.com.
More Information
Intercity Transit's Transit Guide provides information about Intercity Transit's 22 bus routes and other commuter services. Guides are available at local Timberland Libraries, most area Safeway stores, the Capitol Campus Visitor Information Center, and at most large employment sites.
For more information or bus trip planning assistance, contact Customer Service at 360-786-1881 or 1-800-287-6348. Customer Service is open weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bus schedules, route maps, pass programs and other information are also available online.