Keep the 41 bus route in Olympia

Recent signers:
Arjen Meurs and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Intercity Transit's redesigned bus network begins on 5/3/26. Tell IT's Transit Authority Board: we need to retain better service on Division from Evergreen to downtown! Don't give up the 41 bus route that is necessary for stable, quick, safe community access to and from downtown Olympia!

Voters in Thurston County approved Intercity Transit Prop 1 in 2018 which has led to this large scale redesign, paid for by our tax money. Only 4% of surveyed participants said reduced bus service was acceptable, but one outcome of the redesign is clear: the successful route 41 giving Evergreen and Division St. riders on the Westside access to downtown is being eliminated, and the replacement service involves a longer route, rerouting in the wrong direction to the mall, and transfers across a busy street in all weather. 

Intercity Transit Planning Deputy Director Rob LaFontaine has stated: "...if reaching downtown Olympia is the goal, then the new bus routes will continue to be a disappointment plain and simple."

Downtown Olympia is:

  • The most walkable, pedestrian-friendly part of the city
  • Home to beloved local businesses including most coffee shops and bookstores
  • The location of the farmers' market and the food bank
  • Where you can find the main Olympia library branch and not a small library hub
  • The place where you can access harm reduction services, coordinated entry for homelessness, and other social services intake.

We believe downtown is the heart of Olympia and that bus riders and bus supporters who have chosen to live along the successful, long-running 41 bus service should continue to have the service they rely on to get to and from downtown quickly and safely. The 41 route has multiple low-income apartment complexes along the way, along with housing developments, Evergreen College, and places where residents have relied on the 41 for decades. 

Please share this petition with other taxpayers, city council members, neighborhood associations, and downtown business associations: we deserve fast, safe service along Evergreen and Division to and from downtown, and this plan is not acceptable! 

 

 

avatar of the starter
Meg HPetition Starter
Media inquiries

162

Recent signers:
Arjen Meurs and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Intercity Transit's redesigned bus network begins on 5/3/26. Tell IT's Transit Authority Board: we need to retain better service on Division from Evergreen to downtown! Don't give up the 41 bus route that is necessary for stable, quick, safe community access to and from downtown Olympia!

Voters in Thurston County approved Intercity Transit Prop 1 in 2018 which has led to this large scale redesign, paid for by our tax money. Only 4% of surveyed participants said reduced bus service was acceptable, but one outcome of the redesign is clear: the successful route 41 giving Evergreen and Division St. riders on the Westside access to downtown is being eliminated, and the replacement service involves a longer route, rerouting in the wrong direction to the mall, and transfers across a busy street in all weather. 

Intercity Transit Planning Deputy Director Rob LaFontaine has stated: "...if reaching downtown Olympia is the goal, then the new bus routes will continue to be a disappointment plain and simple."

Downtown Olympia is:

  • The most walkable, pedestrian-friendly part of the city
  • Home to beloved local businesses including most coffee shops and bookstores
  • The location of the farmers' market and the food bank
  • Where you can find the main Olympia library branch and not a small library hub
  • The place where you can access harm reduction services, coordinated entry for homelessness, and other social services intake.

We believe downtown is the heart of Olympia and that bus riders and bus supporters who have chosen to live along the successful, long-running 41 bus service should continue to have the service they rely on to get to and from downtown quickly and safely. The 41 route has multiple low-income apartment complexes along the way, along with housing developments, Evergreen College, and places where residents have relied on the 41 for decades. 

Please share this petition with other taxpayers, city council members, neighborhood associations, and downtown business associations: we deserve fast, safe service along Evergreen and Division to and from downtown, and this plan is not acceptable! 

 

 

avatar of the starter
Meg HPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Intercity Transit
Intercity Transit
Responded
“We recognize that some current Route 41 riders are frustrated by the upcoming service change. This redesign is the most significant in our agency’s history, affecting nearly every route in the bus network. It reflects more than a decade of planning, shaped by customer feedback and extensive data analysis. The new bus system will be more expansive and efficient, giving riders improved access to essential services, and providing service to new, previously unserved, areas. Buses will arrive more frequently, operate earlier in the morning, and run later into the evening. While most trips will take less time after the service change, some may take longer. This may be due to a route servicing a new area, providing more people access to public transit, or because connection points will be changing. Adding a few minutes to some commutes also means providing new access to others in our community who have never had it before. To answer these sorts of questions, we developed a system redesign page and a specific FAQ page. These pages have been on our website since fall 2025. System Redesign Page: https://www.intercitytransit.com/bus-system-redesign FAQ Page: https://www.intercitytransit.com/bus-system-redesign-FAQs On the FAQ page we have the following information about the Route 41: Why are you discontinuing Route 41? We are replacing Route 41 with Routes 32 and 34. This combination will provide direct service in west Olympia between The Evergreen State College and SPSCC. It will also maintain connections to Harrison Ave. and provide connections to all other routes in west Olympia. Route 34 will provide service between The Evergreen State College and Capital Mall. We will still provide one-seat rides between Evergreen and downtown Olympia via Route 9X. Every other Route 34 bus leaving Evergreen will continue as an eastbound 9X after arriving at Capital Mall. Every other westbound bus on Route 9X will continue as Route 34 after leaving Capital Mall and will travel to Evergreen. This will expand one-seat access to and from Evergreen (along with many other destinations) to bus stops stretching eastward across the Martin Way corridor and into Hawks Prairie. Route 32 will replace bus service along Division St. currently served by the Route 41, linking west Olympia residents directly to nearby schools, shopping, services and employment. While people accustomed to riding Route 41 may have a slightly longer trip, these changes will improve access and mobility for residents currently not served, including families who have expressed the need for transportation for busy high school and running start students. What about Nightline service? Weekend "Nightline" service between downtown Olympia and Evergreen is sponsored by The Evergreen State College and will continue through the end of the current contract (June 2026); future service will depend on a renewed agreement with the College, but there are no plans to discontinue Nightline service. We will also keep buses on many busier routes running beyond 11 p.m.”
Carolina Mejia
Carolina Mejia
Thurston County Commission - District 1
Robert Vanderpool
Robert Vanderpool
Olympia City Council - Position 6
Carolyn Cox
Carolyn Cox
Lacey City Council - Position 7
Eileen Swarthout
Eileen Swarthout
Tumwater City Council - Position 4

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Petition created on April 12, 2026