Community Transit

Double Decker in Service

July 31, 2007

Eager bus riders crowd The Double Tall double decker bus for a chance to take its inaugural ride.

Snohomish County, Wash. - It’s called The Double Tall and it’s likely to cause double-takes.

Community Transit today unveiled its new double decker bus, which will go into regular service on Aug. 1 on commuter routes between Snohomish County and Seattle.

The 14-foot tall bus has two covered decks and seats 67 passengers, with standing room for another 20. It will hold twice as many riders as a standard 40-foot long bus while taking up the same amount of space on the road.

"The Double Tall is another option for people looking for commute alternatives," said Joyce Olson Eleanor, Community Transit CEO. "Our buses to Seattle are pretty full, so we hope this bus, and possibly more in the future, will allow more people to use transit as a commuting option."

The Double Tall is being leased for one year from manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited, the world’s leading maker of double decker buses. In that year, Community Transit will decide whether to order more double deckers for its fleet of nearly 300 buses. Among the considerations going in to that decision are maintenance costs, fuel performance and customer satisfaction.

"People will love this bus," said Eleanor. "The view is terrific, the seats are comfortable and the handling is amazing. Plus, everywhere the bus goes, people stare. It’s a great advertisement for public transportation!"

On Aug. 1, The Double Tall will begin service at the Lynnwood Transit on the Route 402 bus to Seattle. The bus will make two trips to Seattle that morning, at 6:33 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.

That afternoon, the bus will serve Route 402 customers, leaving 4th/S. Jackson Street at 4:13 p.m. Later that day, the double decker bus will serve Route 425 customers from Seattle to Lake Stevens, departing Stewart/9th Street at 5:38 p.m.

The double decker bus will alternate among Community Transit’s commuter routes about every two weeks. Riders are asked to check the agency’s website to view the bus’s schedule.

The Double Tall also will make several community appearances during the next few weeks at the following locations:

July 31, 3-5 p.m.
Public display and 94.1 KMPS live radio remote
Lynnwood Transit Center

August 1, 4-6 p.m.
KOMO Radio ride along on Routes 402 and 425

August 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Stanwood/Camano Parade
Community Transit’s Oxy Gene will escort The Double Tall on the parade route.

August 7, 6-8 a.m.
Public display and Warm 106.9 live radio remote
Ash Way Park & Ride, Lynnwood

August 7, 5-8 p.m.
Public display at National Night Out event
McCollum Park, South Everett

August 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Monroe Fair Days Parade
Community Transit’s Oxy Gene will escort The Double Tall on the parade route.

September 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival Parade
Community Transit’s Oxy Gene will escort The Double Tall on the parade route.

Community Transit is just the second public transportation agency in the nation - after Las Vegas - to use a double decker bus in regular transit service.

Community Transit operates 33 local bus routes, 31 commuter routes and DART paratransit service throughout Snohomish County. It also offers carpool matching, one of the nation’s largest vanpool programs and offers travel training to disabled and senior citizens. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.

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