Getting around Seattle with Community Transit

An image of the Seattle city skyline featuring the Space Needle

Community Transit is here to get you where you want to go. We are proud to be a part of the Seattle community — we live here, ride here, and drive here. Wherever you need to go in Seattle, feel good about how you get there.

About Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is home to many regional destinations. The Seattle metropolitan area's population is 4.02 million, making it the 15th-largest in the United States.

King County Metro provides frequent bus service within the city and surrounding county, as well as the South Lake Union Streetcar line and the First Hill Streetcar line. Sound Transit provides an express bus service within the metropolitan area, two Sounder commuter rail lines between the suburbs and downtown, and its 1 Line light rail line between the University of Washington and Angle Lake. Further Link light rail extensions are planned to reach Lynnwood to the north, Federal Way to the south, and Bellevue and Redmond to the east by 2024.

Washington State Ferries, which manages the largest network of ferries in the United States and third largest in the world, connects Seattle to Bainbridge and Vashon Islands in Puget Sound and to Bremerton and Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. King Street Station in Pioneer Square serves Amtrak intercity trains and Sounder commuter trains, and is located adjacent to the International District/Chinatown light rail station. ( Source: Wikipedia)

Community Transit provides several commuter bus routes to Seattle from its service area as well as DART paratransit service and Vanpool to riders venturing to Seattle from our service area.

Popular Destinations

Transit Driver Appreciation Day

Mar 15, 2023, 16:56 by Laurel McJannet
Transit Driver Appreciation Day is March 18, 2023

 

On March 18, people worldwide will celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day (#TDAD). It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the hard work and dedication of transit drivers who provide essential transportation services to communities.

Because #TDAD falls on a Saturday this year, it will be observed on Friday, March 17.

Transit Driver Appreciation Day originated from this blog post in 2009, advocating for a “Bus Driver Appreciation Day.” (Note that the writer is a Seattle-area transit user!) Transit-related blogs (like Seattle Transit Blog) publicized this post, and Transit Driver Appreciation Day’s popularity grew into the day of observance it is today. 

Why March 18? 
On March 18, 1692, Blaise Pascal launched a precursor to public transportation in Paris – seven horse-drawn vehicles running along regular routes. Pascal was a French mathematician, inventor, physicist, philosopher, author, and general savant. Read more about the first instance of public transportation here.

Transit drivers are an essential part of our communities. They help people get to work, school, appointments, and other vital destinations every day. They operate buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation, ensuring that people have access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options.

Transit drivers play a critical role in keeping our communities moving, and they face many daily challenges and risks. They deal with heavy traffic, poor weather conditions, and difficult passengers -- all while ensuring that their passengers arrive at their destinations safely and on time.

It is important to appreciate the hard work and dedication of transit drivers. Here are a few ways customers can show their appreciation for transit drivers on Transit Driver Appreciation Day:

  • Say thank you: The most straightforward way to show appreciation is to thank transit drivers for their hard work and dedication. A simple thank you can brighten their day and make them feel valued and appreciated.
  • Write a note: Customers can write a note or card expressing their gratitude for the excellent service provided by the transit drivers. These notes can be posted in visible areas of the bus or train or handed to the driver in person.
  • Write a commendation. Commendations are sent to the driver's supervisor and put into the driver's employee file. An easy way to send a commendation is to email Riders@commtran.org or fill out this Contact Us form. Ensure you include the driver's name, route, and time. And don't forget to tell us why they should be commended.
  • Spread the word about Transit Driver Appreciation Day on social media and encourage others to express their gratitude for the hard work of transit drivers. (The hashtag if #TDAD.)

Transit Driver Appreciation Day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of transit drivers who play a vital role in keeping our communities moving. These essential workers play a critical role in our daily lives, and their contributions should not go unnoticed. By showing appreciation for their service, we can help boost their morale and let them know their efforts are valued and appreciated.

Give 'em some KUDOS! Post a message of appreciation on our Kudoboard, and we'll share it with our drivers.