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.
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, and voters rejected a sales tax increase to support restored service.[4][5] Skagit Transit began operating inter-county routes to Island and Whatcom counties in 2005,[6] and expanded with a Mount Vernon–Everett commuter route in 2006 part-funded by Island Transit and the state government.[7][8] The agency also took ownership of Skagit Station in Mount Vernon, which is served by Amtrak Cascades and Island Transit.[6] A 0.2 percent sales tax increase was approved by voters in the November 2008 election, allowing for expanded service.[9]
Facilitiesedit
The primary maintenance and administration facility for Skagit Transit is located in Burlington.[10]
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.[13] Since 2022, youth fares on Skagit Transit have been free as part of a statewide program.[14] The agency also offers day passes and monthly passes for both regular and reduced fares.[13] Fares can be paid with cash or the Umo fare card and smartphone app, which is shared with the Whatcom Transportation Authority.[15]
^ abcdPublic 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.
^ abPublic 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.
^ abLerman, Rachel (November 19, 2013). "Skagit Transit ridership hits high point in October". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
^ abHixson, Russell (December 28, 2013). "Skagit Transit celebrates 20 years of bus service". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
^ abPublic 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.
^ ab"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.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skagit Transit.