News Releases / Public Service Annoucements

Press Release
For More Information, Call:
Terry G. Weed
General Manager For Release: Immediate
April 21, 2008

Clallam Transit Supports Earth Day Goals Everyday!

In recognition of Earth Day, Clallam Transit System reminds county residents of the role public transportation plays to help the environment. And, the facts are clear. Public transportation reduces greenhouse gases that damage the environment and conserves energy. Traveling by public transportation uses less energy and produces less pollution than comparable travel in private vehicles.

A single person, commuting alone by car, who switches a 20-mile round trip commute to existing public transportation, can reduce his or her annual CO2 emissions by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10 percent reduction in all greenhouse gases produced by a typical two-adult, two-car household. By eliminating one car and taking public transportation instead of driving, a savings of up to 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions can be realized.

“Each year, Earth Day could be the impetus for more residents to use public transit to reduce air pollution and conserve fuel,” said Terry Weed, General Manager. “With gasoline prices setting new record highs every day, most Americans are finding mobility very costly,” Weed said. “For daily commuters, people on fixed incomes, and anyone trying to stretch budget dollars farther, these increasing costs are a real hardship. Increased use of bus service is the single quickest way citizens can save money on high gasoline costs.”

Weed noted Clallam Transit has always been a community leader in the effort to improve air quality, lower energy consumption, and reduce dependence on imported oil. “Today, management is focused on the use of clean diesel technology, biodiesel, and alternately powered vehicles, said Weed. “But our commitment goes way back,” he says, adding most of the system’s first buses, the 1980 Carpenter Cadets, were converted to propane power after delivery.

Two years ago Clallam Transit switched to biodiesel fuel to power its 30 bus fleet. Biodiesel is a domestically produced, relatively clean-burning, renewable fuel made by chemically reacting alcohol with vegetable oils, fats, or greases. CTS purchases a 20 percent blend known as B20 (20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel fuel) and uses this fuel throughout the fixed-route heavy duty bus fleet and paratransit fleet as well.

“A focused emphasis in our maintenance department has been on our use of clean diesel technology,” said Weed. “Diesel engines are cleaner than ever before, and in the next few years, the diesel industry will virtually eliminate key emissions associated with on- and off-road diesel equipment,” noted Maintenance Manager Kevin Gallacci. “This environmental progress is the result of the new clean diesel system which combines cleaner diesel fuel, advanced engines, and effective exhaust-control technology.”

The new low-sulphur diesel is a petroleum-based fuel with a high energy content. The new diesel engines are the world’s most efficient internal combustion engine, providing more power and more fuel efficiency than alternatives such as gasoline, compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas. Advanced technologies such as electronic controls, high-pressure fuel injection, variable injection timing, improved combustion chamber configuration and turbocharging help make today’s diesel engines cleaner, quieter, and more powerful than past vehicles.

In regard to emissions, Gallacci said, with the introduction of lower-sulphur diesel fuel, a number of exhaust treatment systems further reduce emissions from diesel engines. Particulate trap filters collect matter (i.e. soot) as the exhaust gases pass through and reduce particulate emissions by 80 to 90 percent. Oxidation converters use a chemical reaction to convert emissions, such as smog forming nitrogen oxides into harmless substances. Clallam Transit management have also implemented procedures to minimize bus idling during vehicle start up and at transfer points.

Clallam Transit was recently awarded a Washington State Department of Ecology grant to retrofit 24 diesel buses with exhaust emission control technology to effectively further reduce toxic emissions.

Clallam Transit took delivery of its first hybrid support staff vehicle in 2007. Direction from the system’s governing Board has been to explore and implement the use of hybrid technology. Two more hybrid support vehicles were received in 2008.

“Let’s make Earth Day the start of a new personal commitment to use public transit more to make a dramatic and measurable different in the planet’s environment,” Weed said.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, if Americans used public transit at the same rate as Europeans, for roughly 10 percent of their daily travel needs, the U.S. would reduce its dependence on imported oil by more than 40 percent (nearly the amount we import from OPEC countries each year).

News Release
For More Information, Call:
Mary E. Bower
Office Manager For Release: Immediate
April 10, 2008

New Transit Pass Outlet in Sequim

The City of Sequim is now selling Clallam Transit System monthly bus passes at the city hall. The Sequim City Hall, located at 152 West Cedar Street, is the newest addition to Clallam Transit's pass outlet network. Other bus pass outlets in Sequim are Mail Boxes Too and Swain’s Outdoor store.

City of Sequim staff are pleased to offer this service to residents and visitors to the area. The new pass outlet will be convenient for people who want to pick up a bus pass while they are in downtown Sequim and don't want to make a special trip to another location. Hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Press Release
For More Information, Call:
Frank Poulsen
Operations Manager
360/452-4511 For Release: Immediate
February 8, 2008

Clallam Transit Sets New Ridership Record in 2007

The Clallam Transit System set an all-time record for annual passenger trips in 2007. Fixed-route service ridership increased 3.9 percent over 2006 ridership. The final fixed-route count was 888,777 rides, up from the 855,324 provided in 2006.
The 2007 trip total is the highest annual total in Clallam Transit’s history. The percent of increase mirrors the 3.7 percent gain from 2004 to 2005. The gain from 2005 to 2006 was 10.0 percent. For comparison, the ridership history shows the high percent of change of 22.8 percent (1984 to 1985) and the low of -16.1 percent (1996 to 1997).
The 2007 fixed-route ridership almost doubled the number of rides provided by CTS in its first full year of operation.
Overall ridership including fixed-route, special, vanpool, and paratransit boardings totaled 1,042,686 trips.