Island Transit recently announced a series of changes and improvements to its services on Whidbey and Camano islands that will kick off Oct. 1.
The changes include adding new service areas that were previously unserved or underserved, bringing back services in the areas that have been restricted by COVID-19 since 2020, returning bus service to Highway 20 and adding a bus stop at Ryan’s House, providing service in areas west of Scatchet Head, adding more weekend service and increasing Paratransit rider access to areas that were previously unserved.
The new On-Demand Zones are Zone 6 — formerly known as Route 6 — and On-Demand Zone 58, the old Route 58.
On-Demand Zone 6 will provide service from Admirals Cove and the Coupeville ferry through the town of Coupeville, using the current fixed route stops along the way that will be available to riders all day. There will be some overlay for both the fixed route and on-demand portions of this service.
Zone 6 will operate from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, adding all day service on weekdays and new service on weekends to the Coupeville Ferry Terminal.
This also replaces Route 1 service to the ferry terminal on weekends, because Route 1 will no longer serve the ferry terminal and will instead provide additional service on Highway 20 from Coupeville to Admirals Cove using the existing fixed route stops.
On-Demand Zone 58 will keep serving Route 58 stops, introducing new service from Scatchet Head through Maxwelton to Highway 525, using route stops that haven’t been served since 2020 due to the pandemic. Additionally, it will bring paratransit services to areas that were previously unserved.
Zone 58 will run weekdays only, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Island Transit is modifying existing routes to work in conjunction with the On-Demand service.
Route 6 will continue to operate as a fixed route service. It will end at the Coupeville park and ride but it will no longer serve the Coupeville Ferry Terminal and Admirals Cove as a fixed route. As usual, this route will serve riders at regular hours, weekdays only.
Route 58 won’t see any schedule changes, continuing to serve as a fixed route, but it will focus on taking riders to the Clinton ferry terminal.
There will also be changes to Routes to better serve Oak Harbor and Coupeville.
Route 1 will no longer serve the Coupeville Ferry Terminal on weekends, as they are taken care of by the On-Demand Zone 6 service which will take riders to the terminal from downtown Coupeville bus stops. Route 1 will serve existing fixed stops on Highway 20, connecting Coupeville to Admirals Cove.
The Central Whidbey State Parks Route will continue to serve the ferry terminal through Sept. 3.
Route 9 will remain a fixed Route service, adding a Walmart stop, but it will travel west on Bayshore Drive, left on Pioneer Way, right on Highway 20, left on Barrington Drive, left on Erie Street and right on Highway 20 again.
According to Marketing and Communications Officer Selene Muldowney-Stratton, Island Transit is still looking for more bus drivers and staff to meet the demands of the new and improved services.
