Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council is expected to receive a briefing about Intercity Transit’s planned system redesign, which will transform bus service throughout Thurston County in May 2026.
The briefing is scheduled during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The redesign aims to add 18,000 annual service hours and introduce 25 new routes starting in 2026.
The expansion represents the culmination of planning that began with Intercity Transit’s 2018 Long Range Plan and approval of Proposition 1, a sales tax measure that was passed by voters in November 2018.
The redesign is going to transform a current 20-route system to a 29-route network. It is going to retain four existing routes — 13, 21, 600 and 610 — and introduce 25 new routes.
The new system features a high-frequency corridor service incorporating bus rapid transit features, connecting west Olympia to east Lacey. The new routes are designed to provide convenient one-seat rides to high schools, shopping centers, employment centers and connections to the frequent corridor service.
The agency has been working on a phased implementation, with changes beginning in January.
When combined with earlier changes this year, the May 2026 implementation target adds a total of 40,000 annual service hours compared with 2024 levels.
According to a staff report, Intercity Transit’s increase in service hours and frequency could help reduce vehicle miles traveled by 25% from 2021 levels through 2040. That would help support a goal of achieving net-zero emissions in Olympia.
From an equity perspective, the improved transit access is also seen as helping residents who cannot afford a car or rely solely on public transit to reach education, employment and essential services.
The final approval of the system redesign is going to be considered by the Intercity Transit Authority in December.
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Tanker1982
I am a strong believer in public transportation. However, this is all based on a sales tax and no revenue from ridership fares? If I am wrong then full stop. I was army and spent 15 years utilizing German and Belgian public transportation. And, it was fantastic. But I did pay. There were obvious discounts for kids, students, and retirees. What is our deal?
Friday, November 28, 2025 Report this
Wesley
Can we get the busses off Capitol Way, please? They're noisy and seem to operate at all hours. At least turn off the beepers for the suspension kneel and other contraptions fitted to the coach?
Saturday, November 29, 2025 Report this
Curious
Are they staying free? Do I get to keep my stop? Are they also going to include middle schools?
Saturday, November 29, 2025 Report this
DaveinOlyWA
Yes, it is still free and the reason why was due to the
VERY small amount of revenue fares provided
EXTREME stress in collecting fares from a growing population of riders
DELAYS caused by the above arguing/explaining/providing long winded excuses when not paying
MASSIVE reduction in traffic (also mentioned in this article)
So yeah, WE PAY FOR IT ALL and I am more than happy to do so.
I am very happy to see expansion of the network which is long overdue. I still know many people who drive that wouldn't if the bus was more convenient to them. I hope this expansion covers more areas.
Saturday, November 29, 2025 Report this
mhjwilson
Open the market to competition. "Curitiba is able to finance the system through a mix of private and public resources. Although managed by the city's transit authority, the city contracts out the service to 22 private companies, who operate the buses and taxis and share revenues with the city to support road maintenance and upkeep of the terminals.
Curitibanos, however, aren't an entirely carless people. In fact, Curitiba has one of the highest per-capita car ownership rates in Brazil. But the city's gasoline use per capita is one-third below that of eight comparable Brazilian cities, perhaps indicating that Curitibanos are less dependent upon the car.
More than 60 percent of overall travel in Curitiba is by bus -- Curitibanos use the transit system for more than just commuting to and from work. The bus lines of the expansive transit network are coded by color and organized according to citizens' daily needs, from accessing health care to shopping. Over a 20-year period, ridership has increased 400 percent in Curitiba. https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/fellows/brazil1203/transportation.html
Saturday, November 29, 2025 Report this
Cheryla
Hello, Tanker1982! As DaveinOlyWA clearly explained, local citizens voted to support free buses (and other improvements) through a tiny increase in sales tax. I, for one, am glad I voted for it. Paying fares provided minimal revenue while creating headaches for driver and passengers alike.
mhjwilson, I like the idea of private-public cooperation, but am unsure if there are would be any companies that would be willing to join with Intercity transit, nor do I have any idea if such cooperation would result in either enhanced service (Intercity transit seems to be moving rapidly in the right direction, so to speak!) or cost savings. Might be worth a look.
I commend voters and IT both for their farsightedness, compassion, and the upcoming improvements in service!
Sunday, November 30, 2025 Report this
Somney
I am for not collecting fares and paying for it through sales tax. I've taken the bus downtown to shop, go to the farmers market or go to eat at a restaurant and found it way easier than driving around to find a parking spot. Since I am patronizing a business there and they benefit, I don't use a space, it benefits the city and the business. I have occasionally used it to go to work but it depends on my schedule, what I am doing that day, and the weather, but I enjoy free buses and think the climate benefit, reduction in traffic etc is great.
Sunday, November 30, 2025 Report this
KarenM
I agree with the other comments about the benefits of a fare free system. As our area population grows, the service will help keep congestion from growing at a more rapid pace. I hope to see an electric fleet of busses soon. This service change will help more people have convenient access to a bus. Bus service helps many people who cannot or choose not to drive.
Monday, December 1, 2025 Report this
DRamsey2
I use the Intercity bus system frequently. With the 600 and 610 buses connecting to Lakewood, the Sounder trains from Lakewood to Seattle, and Pierce County buses from Lakewood to SeaTac airport, I feel public transportation is becoming a convenient way to travel around the Sound. And a big change is coming this weekend, when the Link system begins operations at its new Federal Way Station; Link will then run from Federal Way to Lynwood. Interestingly, Pierce and King Counties charge a fee for service and it works for them. The drivers don't need to handle cash, or fight with passengers. The use of buses for sleeping and hanging out seems more prevalent in Intercity Transit than I've seen elsewhere; that makes the system less efficient. Some will fault me for even bringing up the homeless topic, but it is relevant. Public transportation has to work safely, at night and in bad weather, if more people are expected to buy into it. Intercity Transit Center is surrounded by homeless camping on adjacent streets, which makes travel after dark around here somewhat unpleasant. Camping and drug use in some of the local bus shelters got so bad that those shelters were removed, making ridership more uncomfortable in bad weather. I'm all for use of the transportation system by all, regardless of individual circumstances; it just means there are a lot of factors to consider to in making the system practical.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this
DudeInOlympia
Nervous about my route being changed but excited to expand free public transportation. See the revisions here and how it may affect your route: https://platform.remix.com/project/03cdaee8?latlng=47.02875,-122.90484,10.871&sp.id=680f7c74-dc8e-4073-ae10-bce11b19a9be&styleBy=service
I really hope they decide to increase the drunk routes frequency laaate friday and saturday nights. My friends and I used it years and years ago and it allowed for a safe way back home. Impossible to calculate the total thwarted DUI situations for the city as a whole, but it absolutely helps out to give people a free safe option rather than having to decide between taking a risk driving home or ordering a $30 uber/lyft. I think it is clear that "WeLl JuSt Be SmArT aNd DoNt DrIvE dRuNk" isn't clicking for some of these peeps on the weekends.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this
DRamsey2
Hey Dude, thanks for the link! Looks like a lot of the same street coverage as before. Some bus routes seem to morph from one route into multiple routes via "connections." Anyway, the one missing route that puzzles me is the 66. The new plan still has one bus servicing Pacific, but it bypasses downtown Olympia entirely; it goes between Lacey Transit Center and Tumwater, via Henderson and Boulevard. From downtown, if you want to go to East Side Food Co-op, Petsmart, several restaurants, etc you would have to transfer at intersection of Pacific and Martin Way or at Lacey Transit Center. That can suck if you have heavy grocery bags, or the weather is bad, especially if transferring requires a long wait. I suppose a number of unhappy business owners on Pacific are questioning that route.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this