Pierce Transit running modified schedules due to natural gas explosion
Published 9:43 am Monday, March 7, 2011
A natural gas explosion last week at Pierce Transit’s fueling station in South Tacoma is forcing the transit authority to run modified schedules as the company looks for new fueling solutions.
“As a result of that fire we have lost the ability to fuel our busses on site,” said Lind Simonsen with Pierce Transit community relations.
All busses in the Pierce Transit fleet operate on compressed natural gas. Simonsen said busses are currently being filled at stations in Tukwila, SeaTac Airport and PSC in Tacoma.
Beginning Monday and until further notice, Pierce Transit will operate on a modified Saturday schedule with additional service.
Routes in East Pierce County, such as the 406 and 407 will not be affected as they do have Saturday schedules, however, connector routes may be affected.
Weekday service will operate on routes 26, 61, 113, 406, 407, 413, 444, 446, 495, 496, 497 and 603A.
Weekday service will also operate on the following select trips:
• Route 102 from Purdy, 5:41 and 6:36 a.m.; from Division Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 4:05 and 5:05 p.m.
• Route 490 from 171st and Meridian, 5:40 and 6:40 a.m.; from 11th and Tacoma, 4:05 and 5:05 p.m.; and
• Route 601 from Kimball Drive, 5:36 and 6:31 a.m.; starting from Narrows Park & Ride, 5:16 and 6:10 a.m. (These do not serve Kimball Drive Park & Ride in either direction); from Olympia Transit Center, 4:15 and 5:25 p.m.; from Olympia Transit Center to Narrows Park & Ride, 4:53 p.m.; from Olympia Transit Center, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday local bus service will operate on regular schedules.
Weekday and weekend Shuttle service and Sound Transit service operated by Pierce Transit will operate regular service.
Intercity Transit will operate eight trips on the Tacoma-Olympia Express service to maintain Pierce Transit routes 601 and 603A. Sound Transit buses may be used on some Pierce Transit local routes.
For additional information and updates, go to www.piercetransit.org or call Pierce Transit customer service at 253-581-8000.
