Saturday, October 3, 2026
Intercity Transit is going to enhance 147 bus stops across Thurston County after its board of directors awarded a $2.48 million contract to a construction company to do the job.
Sixty-four of the bus stops are in Olympia, while 44 are in Lacey. The other bus stops are in Tumwater, Yelm, Thurston County, as well as properties owned by the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and Washington State Department of Transportation.
The enhancements involve the extension of concrete pads on the bus stops and the construction of bulb-outs to make it easier for bus riders to get on and off buses.
Creating a bulb-out involves the extension of the sidewalk toward the bus lane, so buses remain in their lane while allowing passengers to get on and off.
According to Rob LaFontaine, the transit agency’s planning deputy director, the upgrades are designed to reduce passenger wait times, enhance accessibility and streamline transit operations.
Four Seasons Concrete Construction, LLC will be working on the construction of the new bus stop enhancements.
Intercity Transit’s board of directors authorized the firm’s contract at a meeting on Sept. 17. The contract is for $2,487,587.61, which includes a 5% contingency fund for any unplanned work.
Five other firms bid on the project. Four Seasons was determined to be the lowest responsive bidder. The firm’s bid was well below the transit agency’s estimate of $3.2 million for the project.
Four Seasons has also done similar projects for Covington, Orting and the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
According to documents prepared for the meeting, funding for the project comes from U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland’s community project fundings request and the state transportation department’s regional mobility grant program.
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mhjwilson
This whole operation should be contracted out, or the market opened to anyone who cares to operate such a business;' no monopoly, no restrictions on the number of providers. It might be nice if some people used Ford Transit 12-15 passenger vehicles that could be driven to the front doors of stores and offices.
Put yourself in the position of a mother with a child and no vehicle who wants to do some shopping at the Walmart store on Galaxy. I have been told the walk from the bus stop is about a quarter of a mile. Now try that with a child in winter weather. I apologize if I am wrong, but if I am not this needs to be fixed. There are some excellent alternative system that are run at lower cost and provider better customer service.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Report this
KarenM
Mhjwilson -
I would note that stores should be built so that their entry way is near a bus line. That is completely feasible, but instead the stores are designed only for people who use cars and there are vast parking lots between the entry and the bus route.
Intercity Transit is looking for people to volunteer for the advisory committee. You could bring your ideas directly to Intercity Transit.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Report this
Snevets
@mhjwilson & KarenM very good ideas.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
To mhjwilson: Nicely worded suggestion. You’re to be commended.
To KarenM: Building stores so they are near bus stops is thinking in reverse. Available land is purchased by businesses and developers. You can’t move land or businesses to be near the bus stops. Bus stops have to be put in where the businesses are. It’s the reason transit systems have to constantly evolve and adapt to the changing communities they serve.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Report this
FrostedFlake
So much better than Twin Transit, in Lewis County, where, "You don't get back home today" may as well be their motto. Or, perhaps, "We'ed rather fight, than switch." Or perhaps, "The inconvenience IS the service." Anyway, don't head for Portland on public transit. Unless you have a bicycle. And a tent.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Report this