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"February 2025"

In Memory of a Fallen Driver

Shawn Yim memorial bus procession

On Friday, Jan. 10, a memorial service was held for Shawn Yim, a King County Metro Coach Operator who was fatally stabbed in the line of duty on Dec. 18.

A procession of about 100 buses and transit vehicles from King County Metro and other state transit agencies made its way through downtown Seattle along 4th Ave. Intercity Transit was honored to join the procession of buses and to have staff attend to recognize Shawn’s legacy, pay tribute to him, and show solidarity for our transit colleagues at his memorial.

ATU Local 1765, the union representing Intercity Transit’s coach and van operators, customer service representatives, and Dial-A-Lift dispatch specialists, partnered with agency leadership to ensure over 30 employees and three buses driven by Operators Justice Hensiek-Aman, Lori Chambers, and Jameyson Miller, could participate in the procession and service to honor Shawn with the dignity and respect he deserves.

Shawn is remembered by his community and friends for his smile, laughter and genuine kindness.



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Service on Presidents Day, Feb. 17

Presidents Day Calendar

Local and Express bus service, Dial-A-Lift and Village Vans will operate on regular schedules on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17.



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A Fond Farewell to Intercity Transit Authority Members

After many years of serving on the Intercity Transit Authority (ITA), we bid farewell to Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Don Melnick and Clark Gilman.

Tumwater Mayor, Debbie Sullivan represented the City of Tumwater on the ITA since April 2014, serving as the chair in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Sullivan represented Intercity Transit on the Transportation Policy Board in 2016 and on the Thurston Regional Planning Council since 2015.

Don Melnick served as a community representative on the ITA since June 2014. He represented Intercity Transit on the Transportation Policy Board from 2016 to 2023. Melnick is a retired engineer who is passionate about transit.

Clark Gilman is a councilmember who represented the City of Olympia on the ITA since the beginning of 2016, serving as the Vice Chair in 2021 and Chair in 2022 and 2023. Gilman represented Intercity Transit on the Thurston Regional Planning Council in 2019 and the Transportation Policy Board in 2020.

Thank you Mayor Debbie, Don and Clark for your service to Intercity Transit and the countless contributions you made to the agency throughout your years of service!

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Winter Bicycle Challenge

Winter Bicycle challenge

Intercity Transit’s Winter Bicycle Challenge encourages all Thurston County residents to bike for any reason throughout the month of February! Bicycling outdoors is a great way to get fresh air, sunlight and exercise, all of which are necessary for the health of our bodies, minds and spirits.

To participate, create an account at *bcc.intercitytransit.com [ [link removed] ]* and enter the miles you ride each day this month. Please contact Duncan Green at *[email protected]* if you have difficulty registering.

There will be prize drawings each week, plus a bonus drawing at the end of the month for everyone who logs rides 10 days or more. You could win a new bike light, bell or waterproof panniers to carry your gear!



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All-Door Boarding Reminder

All Door Boarding reminder

We want to remind passengers that regardless of accessibility needs, you are welcome to board the bus using the front and rear doors. This helps reduce congestion when boarding and disembarking, and allows you to say "hi," ask a question, or offer a "thank you" to our fabulous coach operators.



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Delivering Our Promises to You

bus on the 620 route

In 2016, Intercity Transit began a two year public engagement effort that informed the agency about the community’s expectations and priorities for public transportation in Thurston County. The comprehensive effort provided over 10,000 ideas about what transit should look like moving forward and prioritized those into common themes, which were used to develop scenarios for the future that included:


* *Service Reductions:* Allow public transportation service levels to shrink in the face of increasing growth and congestion which increase operating costs.
* *Status Quo System:* Increase revenues enough to maintain levels of public transportation to keep up with growth and congestion.
* *Transformational System:* Increase revenue enough to keep up with growth and reduce congestion, serve new areas, add frequency and ensure those who need it have it.

Overwhelmingly, 83 percent of survey respondents preferred a transformational system, while less than four percent said that service cuts would be acceptable. This was confirmed by the passage of Intercity Transit Proposition 1 in November 2018.

Our planning team has been working hard to design the system you said you wanted. The redesigned system will deliver the promises we made to the community, specifically:


* Extended span.
* Improved frequency.
* Service to new areas.
* Bus rapid transit.
* Enhanced Commuter service.

Look for opportunities to learn about the proposed changes and provide your feedback in the coming months.



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Text for Departure Times

Bus stop

Want to know when your bus will leave? Text ITS and your bus stop ID to 321123 and you’ll get a text back telling you the next departure times for the stop! Bus stop ID’s can be found on stop structures and signs.







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