The Economy of Pierce Transit

In Pierce County public transportation faces an uncertain financial future. While the economy is slowly improving, Pierce Transit continues to face a significant funding gap. Through an aggressive strategy of identifying operational efficiencies, making reductions in staff, postponing/eliminating capital projects, and cutting lower-producing services, Pierce Transit will reduce this budget shortfall.

In spite of these efforts, operating at current service levels, Pierce Transit is projecting a gap of almost $68 million will remain at the end of 2012. This means Pierce Transit faces the very real possibility of major service cuts, perhaps in excess of 50 percent to close the gap between our revenue and costs. You can see conceptual plans we have out to the community now.

Pierce Transit does hold reserve funds. These funds can be utilized to partially address the budget shortfall, at current service levels they would be depleted in mid-2012.

We continue to look hard at how we do business and we are asking the community to help find solutions that make sense.

Financing for Pierce Transit services comes from four main sources: a voter-approved 0.6% local sales tax, passenger fares, Federal Transit Administration, and Sound Transit funding for regional services. Pierce Transit is a separate municipal corporation, not part of the City of Tacoma, Sound Transit, or Pierce County.

Pierce Transit Saves You Money

Pierce County residents who utilize Pierce Transit's fixed route, express, or Vanpool services at least three days a week can save more than $1,000 annually by leaving their cars at home (based on the American Public Transportation Association's Transit Savings Report).

• PT by the Numbers
• Services
• Economy, Financing and Cost Comparisons