UW to assess air quality as part of transit study

At Community Transit, our first priority is the health and well-being of our customers and employees. The entire transit experience should be safe and welcoming. Smoking of any kind is not allowed on buses, and we are actively working to stop it when reported. While fentanyl use has increased in our region, smoking, and all substance use have always been illegal. Community Transit’s Rules of Conduct support this.

Community Transit is continuing to invest in security measures that deter smoking and other behaviors that are against our Rules of Conduct.

Please report any rule violation to any Community Transit employee or email or call our Customer Care team at (425) 353-RIDE (7433). Please call 911 for immediate assistance with dangerous or life-threatening issues.

Additionally, Community Transit, along with King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other area transit agencies, are collaborating with the University of Washington to study air quality on transit. The goal of this scientific study is to learn more about airflow and whether substances linger. This research will increase scientific knowledge and potentially inform improvements to air flow, cleaning protocols and filters in support of employee and rider health. According to the University of Washington, this is the first study of its kind on transit.

Work to collect air and surface samples and assess airflow patterns is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks on board Metro buses and Sound Transit Link light rail.  Other research partners include Everett Transit and TriMet in Portland.