Intercity Transit presented a multi‑phase redesign to the Tumwater City Council on Nov. 25, saying Phase 3 is slated for May 2026 and will include a bus‑rapid‑transit‑type corridor, new fixed‑route service into outlying Tumwater neighborhoods and extensive operational changes to improve one‑seat rides.

Donna Bowers, associate planner for the city, introduced the agency’s team. Rob Lafontaine, identified in the meeting as Intercity Transit’s planning deputy director, outlined the agency’s outreach and funding history, including a 2018 sales‑tax ballot measure (Proposition 1) that funded nine planned improvements. Lafontaine said COVID delayed implementation and noted the agency has been hiring operators to deliver expanded service.

The agency described Phase 3 as the stage that will deliver a 9x frequent backbone — a 15‑minute‑all‑day service intended to connect major transit centers — and what staff called a ‘‘BRT light’’ corridor. In Tumwater, staff emphasized maintaining Route 13’s coverage while reallocating some of its dedicated frequency into interlined routes so that a stop on Capitol Boulevard would continue to see roughly four buses per hour even if the Route 13 pattern changes.

Interlining — assigning a vehicle to change route numbers during a single run so passengers remain on board — is a core operational tool in the redesign, staff said. The agency told councilors this will increase the number of one‑seat rides across the city and reduce the need for transfers at transit centers.

Staff described concrete local changes: a proposed new Route 70 that would serve Henderson Boulevard, connecting Labor & Industries eastward toward Old Highway 99 and terminating at the Lacey Transit Center, and expanded fixed‑route coverage on sections of Old Highway 99 and Henderson Boulevard. Where fixed routes extend, Intercity Transit said its ADA paratransit (Dial‑a‑Ride) boundary — a three‑quarter‑mile buffer around fixed routes — would expand, making door‑to‑door service available to more residents.

Agency staff said implementation will be substantial: planning and construction of roughly 100 new or enhanced bus stops, retraining about 350 operators, and aligning technology and fare‑collection systems. The presenters said the public comment period is concluding, the transit board is expected to consider final action the week following the council meeting, and the service‑change target effective date is Sunday, May 3 (presenters earlier stated Phase 3 is May 2026).

Council members asked for clarification about a press report that ‘‘Costco is considering a new store in Tumwater.’’ Intercity Transit staff said city planning staff have been working with Costco but that the company had not yet submitted a permit application. Councilors also pressed staff on route alignments, student mobility near Black Hills High School and how the agency expects ridership to respond.

Emily Bergkamp, identified in the meeting as Intercity Transit’s general manager, said the agency’s zero‑fare pilot has had operational benefits — faster boarding, lower dwell times and improved on‑time performance — and described a transit ambassador program to assist customers and reduce driver workload. Bergkamp and Lafontaine also noted one‑time federal and COVID relief funding in recent years, and cited a federal Bus and Bus Facilities grant intended to replace coaches and support capital needs; staff said that grant will fund replacement of 16 coaches over the next two years.

The presentation included financial context: staff said farebox receipts historically accounted for a small share of operating revenue (described in the meeting as about 2%) and that replacing the agency’s aging fare‑collection equipment in 2018 was estimated at $3–5 million, with roughly $1 million per year for upkeep at that time. Intercity Transit said those costs and operational trade‑offs informed its decision to maintain a fare‑free pilot through 2028, at which point the board will reassess.

Next steps: Intercity Transit will finalize outreach materials on its website and the transit board is expected to vote on the service package next week; staff told councilors they will continue local coordination on route alignments and stop infrastructure if the board approves the plan.