Thursday, October 1, 2026
Intercity Transit riders heading to Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis–McChord (JBLM) will have two new route options for their commute starting in September.
The transit agency will introduce two routes to replace Route 620, which goes from Olympia Transit Center to SR-512 Park & Ride in Lakewood, according to an update by Rob LaFontaine, the agency’s planning deputy director, to the Intercity Transit Authority on Wednesday, June 4.
The first route will be a weekdays-only direct route to Lakewood Station and SR-512 Park & Ride with a stop at Martin Way Park & Ride in Lacey.
The second route will be available every day of the week and will take longer as it will make diversions to Lacey Transit Center, Hawks Prairie Park & Ride, and at the Madigan Gate at Berkeley Street in Tacoma, where a connecting ride via Pierce Transit may take riders to JBLM.
LaFontaine said the second route will be financially supported by a regional mobility grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Intercity Transit staff will be working in the coming months to finalize an agreement for the grant.
LaFontaine added they will work with the marketing team to help communicate with riders how the two routes differ to ensure that they know which one to take.
After his presentation, Authority member Brian Hess, a Yelm City Council member, asked whether riders would have to pay for the connecting trip to JBLM since Intercity Transit’s service is fare-free.
General Manager Emily Bergkamp said the fare from the Madigan Gate is $2 and a dollar for individuals with disabilities.
LaFontaine’s update was part of his briefing on the agency’s transit development plan, a state-mandated compilation of planning documents.
The documents contain plans for planned operation changes, which is why the two new routes were presented.
The document also includes the agency’s financial plan and performance measures, as well as describes how the agency’s goals align with the state’s broader transportation goals and the comprehensive plans of several jurisdictions within the agency’s service area.
The compilation also includes the agency’s capital improvements program and transportation improvement program. The agency adopted the newest versions of both documents at the same meeting.
The capital improvement plan details all construction improvements and acquisitions of more than $10,000 in value. Meanwhile, the transportation improvement program lists all projects of regional significance, which would require state or federal funding.
LaFontaine said staff will present the transit development plan to the agency’s community advisory committee on June 16 before putting it to a public hearing on July 16. Intercity Transit staff plans to return the plan to the board for final approval on Aug. 6.
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Dogmom
I fail to understand why Thurston County taxpayers are paying to go to 2 destinations that are not in Thurston County. Even $2 a person or $1 if disabled will hardly cover the extra time and fuel to go that far. The traffic will probably add at least another half hour to the commute. That adds up pretty fast. Is Pierce County Transit footing the bill for any of this?
Supposedly it will be supported by a grant from Washington State Transportation but it is still taxpayers that pay for that grant from D.O.T. is it not?
I'm glad that Intercity Transit has so much taxpayer money that they can build new facilities that no one wants to work out of, like the transfer station downtown(last I heard was that it was sitting empty but maybe that has changed by now) and all the money being spent on building new facilities on Pattison between Martin Way and Pacific and yet they keep asking for more money in their budget.
Doesn't any agency try to live within their generous budget or just keep spending and want taxpayers to keep paying?
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Report this
AmberRolleMackey
Intercity transit is a public funded yet corporate and privately managed criminal syndicate. Years ago Clark Gilman and other city representatives worked with Intercity transit to allocate funds and managed their activities, employees conduct and building projects. This is no longer the case. And I agree with the person commenting, no one voted for the downtown Oly transit center building-- that was and is a waste of space and money. There was a beautiful lawn area long ago that could have been turned into a arboretum surrounded the Transit Center. Nope.
They are too busy spending money on supervisor vehicles to imitate police troopers and follow innocent black people to their home. To intimidate and corral black citizens into their home- creating a lock down, house arrest, white supremacy- culture in our community.
TREASONOUS, RETALIATION, scapegoat tactics by INTERCITY TRANSIT- SUPERVISORs and bus drivers--calling an affluent , educated, middle aged black woman, mentally ill for my civil liberties, my basic human right to exist. For advocacy against horrific torture enslavement by white supremacy supporters in the community will not work. When your entire bus system is monopolized by white trash drug addicted transient, sexual predator, criminals-- many straight out of prison. You bus system will help accountable for SUPPRESSING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF innocent Americans.
As a senior aged, black woman, sight impared, physically disabled with muscular sclerosis and arthritis,
stranded
, left without transportation or access to groceries without walking 5 miles--I am requesting your discrimination team to : please assist us with initiating the resignation of INTERCITY TRANSIT CEO, Emily Bergkamp. She has long supported and encouraged extremely cruel, racist, gestapo tactics--weaponizing white supremacy-against black bus riders, black women commuters and black activist. Giving FAVORTISM and IMPUNITY to white homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill, sexual predators and career criminal riders (some straight out of prison in mason county) who are monopolizing the entire Thurston county bus system. Meanwhile, affluent and educated black people are stalked, harassed and banned by Intercity transit. I personally, have been brutally targeted and hasrassed by racist Intercity transit bus drivers and particularly- supervisor Susan for many years. Ruthlessly and relentlessly targeted by supervisor Susan and other INTERCITY TRANSIT-EMPLOYEES- doing racist retaliation tactics, JUST FOR EXISTING (after REPORTING HORRIFIC HUMILIATION, DISCRIMINATION AND RACIST TARGETED ABUSED TOWARD BLACK PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY). We are receiving false accusations in retaliation, for reporting discrimination. And escalated targeting of black people. Just in the community, as pedestrians, while not even taking the bus. We are OVERTLY tracked, monitored and followed in supervisor INTERCITY TRANSIT- supervisor vehicles to our home and slandered in our community. Slandered to Intercity transit bus drivers, to initiate illegal bans from the public bus. This has gone on for years. And both CEO, Emily Bergkamp and supervisor Susan have been hiding behind black female Intercity transit employees, who are acting as white supremacy-sympathizers and supporters. To invalidate our numerous complaints of horrific discrimination and overt racial targeting, monitoring and harassment of black people who ride the bus.
I have not rode the bus due to their illegal bans simply for my free speech advocacy OUTSIDE OF THE BUS SYSTEM. Overtly targeted, monitored, harassed and banned for my civil liberties- free speech opinion, complaints and or activism in my own community. Yes, banned from the bus for civil liberties unrelated to even taking the bus. Every constitutionalist should be outraged. I live in a remote area of Hawks prairie- surrounded by police and agents in my community- We don't need Intercity transit WHITE SUPREMACY-GESTAPO acting like police troopers. As black a senior aged black woman, I have been followed around my neighborhood by Intercity transit- corporate supervisor vehicles, to prevent me from taking the bus. When I am just walking in my own neighborhood. Just walking for exercise or going to the store nearby. This has been deplorable and unacceptable that our public funding is supporting these klu klux clan member intimidation tactics. What does imitating police troopers- monitoring and harassing innocent black people, just walking down the street in their community, doing stake outs and persuits, HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR **PUBLIC**BUS SYSTEM??? Acting as both agent PROVACATEUR, and racist, white supremacy- counter protester, ON THE CLOCK.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Report this