A Bus System Bonney Lake Could Call Its Own

As Pierce Transit continues to move forward with a bus service that plans to exclude East Pierce, local officials are contemplating ways to still get citizens where they need to go.

The lost service is the result of the, Pierce Transit's attempt to raise sales tax to 0.9 percent, an increase it needed just to break even. The agency responded to the failed election by

In Bonney Lake, the future transit plan might be to go at it alone.

"Unless Pierce Transit gives us some guaranteed level of service, our intent is to withdraw from the district," said Neil Johnson, mayor of Bonney Lake.

If it doesn't secede, Bonney Lake will continue to pay into the Pierce Transit pot, even without representation on the bus routes. Currently, residents contribute 0.6 percent of local sales tax to Pierce Transit.

"Since Pierce Transit is getting our percentage of sales tax, once we’re out of the loop, that tax goes away," said Johnson. "Bonney Lake citizens just got a decrease in sales tax. We would like to take that portion of the sales tax and reenact it, so we could have basic service here... maybe even provide free bus service through the plateau."

To withdraw from Pierce Transit and repurpose the sales tax would need to win approval from voters. Right now, Johnson and city administrators are working on a proposal for a local bus service that could get citizens around town, that residents pay for.

Part of the task is creating a route plan.

The current idea is shown on our map -- a local route that starts at Dairy Queen, goes to Allan Yorke Park, around Lake Tapps and ends on 234th Ave. E., with service a couple times a day. There could also be a route that would get Bonney Lake citizens to Sumner's Sounder Station, up to four times a day.

Johnson also envisions a shuttle service that could help get kids to school who miss their district bus.

An alternative Bonney Lake is considering would be a partnership with other disenfranchised cities -- Sumner, Orting and Buckley -- to create a regional service plan.

These are all just ideas right now, Johnson emphasized to Patch. He asked us to throw the concept out to readers, to get an idea of what citizens would benefit from.

"Where would you use this kind of service? What times would you need it? And if not this route, then what would be of benefit?" Johnson asked.

So now we put it to you: