Crosscut Now
Jun. 15, 2021 - Will Seattle workers commute by bus again?
6/15/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Will enough Seattle workers return to commuting by bus?
Those who have been working from home during the pandemic have a decision to make, and it will have a profound impact on public transit in the region.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Jun. 15, 2021 - Will Seattle workers commute by bus again?
6/15/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Those who have been working from home during the pandemic have a decision to make, and it will have a profound impact on public transit in the region.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(reverent orchestral music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.
(soft ambient music) Will enough Seattle workers return to commuting by bus?
Those who have been working from home during the pandemic have a big decision to make.
If a large percentage of workers continue to skip the commute, that could leave a lasting dent on the region's transit ridership.
In 2019, more than half of King County Metro's fare revenue came from transit passes companies provide at a discount or for free to employees.
And according to King County Metro Transit, all major employers renewed their transit business accounts this year.
The agency relies heavily on sales tax, which, in 2019, made up 57% of total revenue, followed by fares, which represents about 25% of the budget.
About a quarter of people who rode public transportation before the pandemic may never ride again, according to an April Crosscut/Elway poll.
I'm Starla Sampaco.
Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.
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