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Olson Marks 10 Years of Strong Leadership

July 22, 2004

Snohomish County, Wash. - Joyce Olson has seen a lot in her 10 years as CEO of Community Transit, from rapid growth in bus service to major funding cuts to a voter-approved tax increase that started the agency growing again. Olson has guided Snohomish County's transit provider through all types of challenges.

She also has built Community Transit into one of the most respected transit providers in the state. How did she do it?

"Sometimes it was just sheer guts," she says. "Most people survive in positions like this by not rocking the boat, by just going along and not causing any trouble. But sometimes you have to rock the boat -- I just do it carefully."

Olson has earned the respect of regional leaders for her efforts and involvement. She meets regularly with other CEOs and business leaders from around the county to keep them informed of transit issues affecting their communities. She is involved in several chambers of commerce. In 2000, she was named the Everett Chamber's Executive of the Year.

Cathy Reese, a Mukilteo City Council member who is chair of Community Transit's Board of Directors, appreciates Olson's involvement in the community.

"She has reached out and connected with the community and its leaders. She has spent countless hours volunteering for community outreach organizations," Reese says. "In doing so, she has promoted the vision of Community Transit and shown what a valuable asset it is."

All of this is built on a record of solid leadership. When she arrived in July 1994, she announced that the system needed to grow to better serve the agency's taxpayers. Under Olson's guidance, the staff developed plans and made it happen. In her first five years, local service expanded by 55 percent. Former Edmonds City Council President Dave Earling was a Community Transit Board member when Olson arrived.

"Joyce asked several times for the board to trust some very bold decisions she wanted to make, things like relocating the bus bases and the dramatic expansion of services," he says. "The board did trust her and the results are self-evident -- Community Transit is now one of the major transit agencies in the Pacific Northwest."

The bus base relocation was a big step for Community Transit. Its current operations base and headquarters on Hardeson Road was completed under budget and on time. That allowed the agency to use its Kasch Park facility as a base for contract services, which created more competition for the contract, saving more money. Kasch Park is now base for Community Transit's commuter services to Seattle and the UW, Sound Transit routes that Community Transit operates, and the agency's paratransit and vanpool fleets.

In the past 10 years, Community Transit also standardized its fleet, going from buses made by 16 different manufacturers to just four. That allows the agency to reduce maintenance costs.

Olson has proven to be a strong leader, working through the challenge of losing nearly a third of the agency's funding in 2000 with the elimination of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET). The painful staff cuts and service reductions were the most difficult issue she has faced at Community Transit.

"That first Sunday with no weekend service was terrible, seeing people out there waiting when there was no bus coming," she says. "It was hard to see the disabled lose their only means to get to work, social activities and important appointments. I vowed that we would restore and expand service, and thanks to the people of Snohomish County, we have been able to do it."

When voters approved a 0.3 percent sales tax increase in September 2001 to replace much of the lost MVET, that turn-around came. With the voter-approved funding, Community Transit began growing again, restoring Sunday service in February 2002 and expanding service by 18 percent during 2003. The agency has increased service 29 percent overall since approval of the sales tax.

With 10 years of experience at Community Transit, Olson has more than double the national average tenure for a transit agency CEO. Olson says those 10 years have been made easier by the collaborative relationship she has with her bosses -- the Community Transit Board, which is made up of elected officials from jurisdictions within Snohomish County.

"I've been very fortunate, because we have good board members here who understand the big picture -- that what is best for the system is typically best for everyone," Olson says. "In my role, I provide them the best information and recommendations I can, then they decide. I'm open and honest with them; they may not like everything I tell them, but it's my best assessment."

Earling says Olson's skills and personality make the relationship work.

"She has integrity. She delivers what she says she will, and sets an example of hard work, and she expects the same from employees and the board of directors."

Traffic congestion and the demand for transit alternatives continue to be major problems in the region, and Olson wants Community Transit to be part of the answer. In the next 10 years, she wants the agency to develop bus rapid transit, a system where buses would travel more frequently along a specific corridor, like Highway 99, with fewer stops but coordinated with local service to provide quick trips between major destinations.

Community Transit is partnering with agencies like King County Metro and Sound Transit on better regional trip planning and the "smart card" program, which is a debit-like card that can be used for various bus systems as well as rail and ferries.

"We have an outstanding staff and board of directors who continue to make our system more efficient and useful to the people of Snohomish County," she said. "We will continue to work to provide our passengers with the best transit system in this state."

Community Transit By the Numbers, 1994 to 2003

Comparison numbers 1994 1999 2000 2003 County population 516,500 583,300 606,024 637,500 PTBA population 344,333 399,180 406,410 445,960 Ridership 5,489,017 8,782,614 7,288,857 7,889,115 Annual service hours 295,436 553,569 461,005 578,843 Annual service miles 6,454,009 11,782,940 10,508,604 11,914,665 Annual Expenses $36,075,742 $60,221,057 $59,748,618 $76,227,062 Revenue:         Annual Passenger Fares $5,069,561 $9,258,149 $10,140,167 $10,623,533 Sales Tax $21,463,563 $31,503,979 $33,855,318 $53,083,143 MVET $12,334,697 $18,174,980 $207,489 ?? Federal Operating Grants $508,920 ?? $2,598,193 $7,020,865 Total Revenue* $43,704,852 $64,190,098 $63,724,691 $93,048,562

*Total revenue also includes funding from Regional Transit Service, advertising, investment income, state and local grants, deferred income, gain (or loss) on sale of capital assets and inventory, capital grants and contributions, and miscellaneous sources.

These figures include directly operated service, contracted commuter service, DART paratransit and vanpool.

CHANGES OF THE PAST 10 YEARS

Since 1994, the Snohomish County's population has grown 23 percent. Community Transit ridership has increased 44 percent. Community Transit has nearly doubled its service hours and has increased its service miles by 85 percent. Community Transit's vanpool fleet has expanded from 90 vehicles in 1994 to more than 300 in 2004.

In 1997 the Silver Firs and Tulalip areas voted to join the Public Transportation Benefit Area.

In June 1998 local fares were increased from 80 cents to $1. This is the most recent local fare increase. In January 1999, commuter fares increased from $1.50 to $2. In September 1999 North and East County commuter fares increased from $2 to $2.50. Following the passage of I?695, on Dec. 31, 1999 South County commuter fares increased from $2 to $3 and North and East County commuter fares increased from $2.50 to $3.75.

In July 1998 Community Transit dedicated its Merrill Creek Operations Base and Administration buildings. These were developed with the "design/build" concept, which saved millions of dollars, allowing the project to be completed on time and under budget.

In late 1999, Community Transit contracted with Sound Transit to operate regional bus service. This impacted Community Transit commuter service because some routes were turned over to Sound Transit service and passengers had more options.

In 2000, the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) was eliminated, removing approximately 30 percent of Community Transit''''s funding and forcing major service cuts, including all weekend service. In September 2000, using one?time grant funding from the state, Community Transit restored Saturday service on a temporary basis.

On September 18, 2001, Snohomish County voters approved a 0.3 percent sales tax increase (3 cents on every $10 spent) for transit operations. This replaced much of the revenue lost with the elimination of the MVET.

In February 2002 Community Transit used revenue from the September 2001 ballot measure to restore Sunday service, as well as to fund the continued operation of Saturday service.

In February 2003 Community Transit underwent a major service expansion and restructuring. In South Snohomish County, new routes were created and bus frequency was increased to every 15 to 20 minutes on many routes. Service was restructured in the city of Everett, changing Community Transit's most heavily used local route to a commuter only schedule.

In September 2003 Community Transit expanded service in northern and eastern Snohomish County, increasing the frequency of some routes and creating new routes to link communities directly.

Overall in 2003, Community Transit increased service by 18 percent; including restored service, since the sales tax was approved Community Transit has added 29 percent more service.

Community Transit's local route service changes in the city of Everett during 2003 also caused changes to DART paratransit service in Everett. Community Transit maintained two local routes through downtown Everett, which allows the agency to continue direct DART service to key locations, such as many medical offices and the Puget Sound Kidney Center. The changes did limit DART service in other parts of the city, which now are served only by Everett Transit. Everett residents who wish to travel by paratransit vehicle outside the city now must transfer from an Everett paratransit vehicle to DART service. DART passengers who wish to go to parts of Everett not within Community Transit's regular service area must transfer to Everett paratransit vehicles.

During the past 10 years Community Transit has standardized its fleet. In 1994 the agency had buses from 16 different manufacturers. Now it has buses from just four, reducing costs for fleet maintenance.

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