The Future of Intercity TransitThe Intercity Transit Authority has asked the Thurston County Board of Commissioners to call a public transportation improvement conference to consider the size of IT's service area. Current funding will not support continued comprehensive service in both the urban and rural areas of Thurston County, so a revision may be necessary. Pending agreement by the Board of Commissioners, the conference will most likely be held in early 2001. Conference members, consisting of one elected representative from each city council in the county and one elected county official, will recommend the areas to receive and pay for transit service after considering input from the community. Currently, IT's service area includes all of Thurston County, throughout which the agency collects 3/10ths of a percent sales tax. I-695 forced IT to cut 40 percent of its services, eliminating the least productive routes. Eighty-five percent of service to the south county communities was discontinued earlier this year. According to IT's financial projections, service must be reduced by another 30 percent by the end of 2002 unless more funding becomes available. This would affect IT's ability to continue providing effective service to less densely populated areas of the county.
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