Pierce Transit Trims Routes, Citing Driver Shortage

TACOMA, WA — Pierce Transit riders will have to adapt to a new inconvenience, as the transit agency is reducing service to five popular routes.

As The News Tribune first reported, a shortage of available bus drivers has forced the agency to decrease the frequency of some trips. No routes have been eliminated, but Pierce Transit does admit that the cuts may change how commuters transfer to other routes.

"Like many transportation providers across the state and nation, Pierce Transit is experiencing a driver shortage," the agency said. "As a result, the agency has been missing and delaying some bus trips, leading to uncertainty and inconvenience for customers. Pierce Transit makes it a priority to provide customers with predictable, accurate schedule information. Reducing the frequency of service along some routes will give riders a schedule they can rely on, even if it offers fewer trip options."

The changes will begin Sunday, Nov. 7. They include:

• Route 1 will run every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Route 2 will run every 30 minutes on weekdays.
• Route 16 will run every hour on weekdays.
• Route 11 will run every hour weekdays, except for trips used to ferry students to and from schools.
• Route 400 will have its schedule adjusted, but will not lose service.
• Route 500 will run every hour on weekdays and Saturdays.

Sound Transit Express routes 556, 577, 578, 580, 590, 592, and 594 will also have their schedules adjusted, as they are driven by Pierce Transit drivers. The SHUTTLE paratransit will not be impacted by the changes.

As an apology for the inconvenience, Pierce Transit says bus riders and cash-paying SHUTTLE paratransit customers will not need to pay fares Sunday through Tuesday.

Pierce Transit is also assuring riders that the shortages will not last forever. Drivers are working overtime to maintain as many trips as possible, the agency said, and they've also launched a "robust driver recruitment campaign." It will be at least a few months, however, as recruiting and training a new driver takes about 10 weeks.