Author: twintransit

Ride with Confidence

As Lewis County reopens, Twin Transit remains committed to safeguarding the health of riders and drivers. Board with confidence, knowing that Twin Transit’s health and safety protocols are built on Lewis County Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Safely Moving Forward

Following CDC guidelines, Twin Transit has developed innovative solutions to continue serving those who rely on public transit to access work, education and essential amenities.

Personal Protective Equipment

Wearing a face covering is now required statewide and on all Twin Transit buses. Face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of fellow passengers and drivers. Passengers are also asked to wear masks and socially distance at bus stops, if others are present.

Forgot your mask at home? Twin Transit has a limited number of masks available for passenger use. If you don’t have one, simply ask the driver.

Social Distancing

Certain seats have been strategically sectioned off to keep riders at a safe social distance. Plexiglas shields have also been installed on each bus. Now it’s easier to board and disembark from the bus while maintaining a safe social distance.

Passengers are encouraged to limit trips to reserve space for essential travel; specifically, those traveling to work, school, medical appointments, or grocery shopping.

Back-to-Back Busing 

Due to state-wide COVID-19 restrictions, Twin Transit buses have limited capacity. As ridership increased in response to county-wide reopening, a new model was needed to ensure safe social distancing. Twin Transit developed an innovative solution.

Each Twin Transit route is now supplemented by two back-to-back buses, traveling approximately 5 – 10 minutes apart. If the first bus reaches capacity, it will display an “out of service” sign and bypass regular bus stops. These stops will be serviced by the second bus soon thereafter.

This model ensures compliance with capacity restrictions, allows for safe social distancing, and reduces risk, while continuing the service Twin Transit clients depend upon.

This is the first in a two-phase plan. Starting October 12, this model will be replaced by a new higher-frequency model that will space buses out every 30 minutes during peak ridership hours.

Sanitation Practices 

Each evening, Twin Transit buses undergo a thorough sanitation and cleaning process. First, the bus ventilation systems are turned on and a disinfectant is lightly misted into both air intakes.  

Next, high-touch surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, including all handrails, seat grab rails, seats, stop request pull cords and touchpads, seat latches, wheelchair restraint belts and buckles, driver seatbelt buckles, dashes and switch area, steering wheel, and entryway grabrails.

The buses are also supplied with an aerosol disinfectant spray and disinfectant wipes to be used as needed. 

Other Preventive Measures

Beyond following official federal, state and local public health guidance, Twin Transit is taking additional preventative measures to reduce risk to staff, including allowing all non-operational personnel to work remotely.

Passengers can avoid handling cash by using the Token Transit digital bus pass app. This is the recommended payment option, but is not required.

Staying Healthy

Riders are asked to practice CDC safety precautions, including frequent and thorough hand washing, using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible, and cleaning high touch surfaces daily at home. Avoid contact with others who are ill and stay home if you’re feeling sick. Avoid touching your face and always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing – then clean your hands immediately afterward.

Contact the Washington State Coronavirus hotline at 1-800-525-0127 if you have any questions or concerns.

For more information, visit:

Even during a pandemic, public transportation remains the backbone of mobility. Access to reliable transit is essential to economic recovery.

Twin Transit continues to monitor the situation as it evolves and respond proactively, to ensure those who depend on public transit can get where they need to go – safely.

For more information from the CDC, click here.

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Where Have All the Shelters Gone?

Twin Transit bus shelters are going missing all over town! But don’t worry – this isn’t a strange crime spree. It’s all part of Twin Transit’s shelter renovation project.

Twin Transit crews are systematically evaluating the placement and physical condition of each bus shelter, using ridership data to determine where they are most needed and where they aren’t well utilized. Shelters that need a facelift are removed and taken back to the shop for a thorough cleaning and some fresh paint.

You can expect to see these newly refurbished bus shelters popping up around town in the coming months. New decals and large-scale mapping will be added near the end of the year. Highly visible advertising space at each shelter is now available as well.

For questions or more information, please email Info@TwinTransit.org.

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Plexiglas Shields Help Passengers Ride with Confidence

At Twin Transit, we are have implemented many safety precautions to ensure our riders’ safety. We use stringent nightly sanitation practices. Drivers and passengers are required to wear masks. Certain seats have been strategically sectioned off to facilitate social distancing. And now, Plexiglas shields have been installed on each bus.

This makes it easy to board and disembark from the bus, while maintaining a safe social distance.

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Kids Ride Free

The announcement of completely online schooling has hit many local families hard. While necessary, the new school environment will be especially difficult for parents who work full time. To help alleviate some of the burden, Twin Transit is offering free transportation to all children. This includes kids under the age of six, those in grade school and high school students.

Kids age 10 and up can ride Twin Transit buses on their own. Children nine and under must ride with someone who is at least 16 or over, so older teens can take a younger sibling on the bus with them. Twin Transit advises each family to determine what is best for their children.

“Kids of all ages ride the bus frequently,” said Twin Transit Community Relations Director Andrea Culletto. “Our drivers keep an eye on them and always help them get where they need to go.”

Kids can use the transit system to get to a family member or friend’s house. Or, they can ride it to access a tutor or kids’ club/childcare location. This will alleviate some of the stress working parents face as they navigate this new aspect of post-COVID life.  And parents can rest assured that Twin Transit continues to use strong health and safety measures including bus sanitization, face coverings, Plexiglas shields, and social distancing. Each bus is also limited to 10 passengers to facilitate social distancing and help slow the spread – but don’t worry, if the bus is already full, there’s another one just ten minutes behind it.

Parents are encouraged to visit TwinTransit.org for up-to-date route and schedule information. Be sure to check out these Tips for Riding the Bus. 

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Twin Transit Goes Green

Twin Transit has placed the official order for two grant-funded electric buses. Expected to arrive in December 2020, these vehicles will power environmentally friendly public transit between Centralia and Chehalis, starting in early 2021.

The new buses will decrease emissions and make public transit more affordable. In addition, each bus is “recycled” from a current diesel bus, following grant requirements. This ensures that carbon and other hazardous emissions are reduced, while maximizing on pre-existing resources – a win on all fronts.

The electric buses are only the first step in a new wave of green technology integration. Twin Transit will soon begin construction on two electric transit stations, each outfitted with wave induction charging to power the electric buses in-route.

The new Mellen Street e-Transit Station will begin construction in September and the National Avenue e-Transit Station will commence construction in early 2021. Each e-transit station will also include electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle and pedestrian access, and visual enhancements. These projects will be the first of their kind in Lewis County and will provide significant economic stimulus.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Community Relations Director Andrea Culletto. “Twin Transit has worked toward integrating green technologies for a long time. To see that dream becoming reality is truly fantastic.”

This is just the beginning. As we embrace these new technologies, we are laying the foundation for widespread adoption; a more environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible future; and large-scale economic invigoration.

There are remarkable things on the horizon.

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Twin Transit Introduces Back-to-Back Busing

Due to state-wide COVID-19 restrictions, Twin Transit buses have limited capacity. As ridership increases in response to county-wide reopening, a new model is needed to ensure safe social distancing. Twin Transit has developed an innovative solution, in order to continue serving everyone who relies on public transit to access work, education, and essential amenities.

Starting Monday, July 6, each Twin Transit route will be supplemented by two back-to-back buses, traveling approximately 5 – 10 minutes apart. If the first bus reaches capacity, it will display an “out of service” sign and bypass regular bus stops. These stops will be serviced by the second bus soon thereafter.

This model will ensure compliance with capacity restrictions, allow for safe social distancing, and reduce risk, while continuing the service Twin Transit clients depend upon.

Passengers are encouraged to limit trips to reserve space for essential travel; specifically, those traveling to work, school, medical appointments, or grocery shopping. For more information, to find your route, or view your bus’s current location, please visit TwinTransit.org.

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Walk, Run, Bike and Get Outside!

After several months of staying home to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis County is finally reopening. Many of us find ourselves not quite as healthy post-stay-home-order as we were in the beginning. According to recent Census Bureau data, nearly 35% of Washington residents are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.

There are many ways to treat these conditions, including eating healthy, connecting with friends and family, medical intervention, and talk therapy. Another well-established treatment option is physical exercise. This latter option is especially appealing now that the rain has retreated and summer has finally arrived!

Twin Transit is encouraging everyone to walk, run, bike and get outside. This more physically engaged lifestyle can improve health and increase social connections – while physically distancing.

Some of the healthiest communities in the world are known for their more active lifestyle. Counter to popular belief, this isn’t about intense exercise and punishing workouts. It’s actually about moving continuously throughout the day.

In a nutshell, the more you move, the healthier you’ll be.

Lewis County is an exceptionally beautiful place. Why not get outside, breathe the fresh air, take in some sun and savor it? You can enjoy a plethora of local parks and trails, like the Willapa.

Many local residents live within a few miles of a grocery store, which means your weekly errands can be done while getting out and getting healthy.

For those who live outside this range? “Twin Transit buses are outfitted with bike racks,” said Community Relations Director Andrea Culletto. “You can easily combine bike riding, walking or running with using public transit if you’re going further than you’re comfortable traveling on your own.”

 To really make the most of your time, combine walking, running or bike riding with friends and family members. “These are all great activities that we can do outside, while socially distancing,” Culletto said.

Twin Transit is encouraging healthy outdoor activity with a team-wide step challenge. “We divided our staff into two random teams,” explained Operations Director Melissa Shoemaker. “Whichever team gets in the most steps, wins. We’re having a healthy-food potluck at the end to announce the winner.”

“This is a fun way we can all get a little healthier together,” said Culletto. “COVID-19 was hard on everyone. But we have to take care of ourselves and each other. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s walk, run or bike there together.”

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