High fuel prices, the sluggish economy and concerns for the environment have more and more people taking the bus these days.

Skagit Transit had a 24 percent increase in overall passenger trips between January and July of this year compared to the same months in 2007.

Because of that increased ridership, the county transit system is looking at more ways it can serve its passengers — and deal with the high fuel prices.

Skagit Transit, which provides a fixed-route bus service through Anacortes, connector routes to the rest of the county, pocket service to South Fidalgo, Vanpools and Dial-A-Rides, wants to up its fares in October and increase the amount of sales tax it collects starting in January.

The fare increase would bring in an additional $75,000, and the sales tax increase would bring in about $5 million, operations manager Dennis Digges estimates.

Skagit Transit intends to use revenue from the fare increase to cover rising operation expenses such as those higher fuel prices.

Revenue from the sales tax increase will allow it to expand service in specific areas and continue funding services covered now by state and federal grants, Digges said. Those grants are set to expire in June 2009.

Fares on local fixed routes could go from 75 cents to $1. Youth fares will remain at 50 cents but the reduced fare would increase from 35 cents to 50 cents.

Anacortes has the 410 fixed route going from the March Point park-and-ride to the downtown area, state ferry terminal and Skyline neighborhood.

Day passes would go from $1.50 to $2 and a 31-day passes would go from $20 to $25 for the standard fares.

The connector to Bellingham would go from 75 cents to $2, while Vanpool rates based on the number of passengers and size of van would also go up.

If approved, the fare increases could go into effect Oct. 1 and provide approximately $75,000 in added revenue, which is close to the $68,000 Skagit Transit is expecting to spend in added fuel cost in 2009 compared to 2008.

“The whole fare increase will be eaten up with fuel costs,” Digges said.

Proposition 1 on the Nov. 4 general election ballot would boost the sales tax in Skagit County by 0.2 percent with the increase going to Skagit Transit. In Anacortes that would mean an increase from 8 percent to 8.2 percent in sales tax.

The proposed 0.2 percent increase — or 2 cents on a $10 purchase — would take effect Jan. 1.

Skagit Transit currently collects 0.2 percent in sales tax. Proposition 1 would double the amount it receives if approved. The 0.4 percent would still be lower than most transit systems in the area,

Digges said. Whatcom Transportation Authority and Island Transit both collect 0.6 percent, and Community Transit in Snohomish and King County Metro Transit collect 0.9 percent.

“So we’re very low,” Digges said.

The added revenue could amount to approximately $5 million per year and help continue programs Skagit Transit provides now with grant funding, Digges explained.

“We have to bring some of those in-house or lose the service,” he said.

If the proposition passes, Skagit Transit also plans to add other services in three phases.

The first phase would include adding earlier and later runs, increasing Saturday service, adding Sunday service and adding runs on the 90X route from the Skagit Station in downtown Mount Vernon to Everett.

Those changes could be made as soon as possible as no additional buses would be needed, Digges said.

The earlier and later service would increase runs of the 513 Route that connects riders coming from Mount Vernon, Burlington and the March Point park-and-ride to 10th Street and Q Avenue in Anacortes.

Anacortes’ Route 410 could also possibly run one or two hours later to help riders to get home from the later connector routes that drop them at the March Point park-and-ride, Digges said.

Because of low Saturday ridership already on the 410 Route, it would not have increased runs on that day or added Sunday service. The 513 Route, however, would get increased Saturday service.

Skagit Transit has ordered six replacement buses it hopes to have delivered by June 2009, Digges said. By hanging on to some of the old buses, it hopes to start new service in Phase 2 of the plan, including to Anacortes’ demand response or Dial-A-Ride service.

Other service routes would be added in east Mount Vernon and from Sedro-Woolley to Skagit Valley College.

Through Phase 3, Skagit Transit plans to increase frequency to particular routes such as the 513 Route, which would get its own bus. Currently the bus is shared between the Anacortes route and the 615 Route from Mount Vernon to La Conner.

Skagit Transit has been holding meetings across the county in order to get people’s input on the fare increases and service changes.

All the feedback from those meetings, including one held in Anacortes on July 24, has been positive, Digges said. There’s been no objections to the fare increase.

In regard to the sales tax increase, it’s time Skagit Transit grows with the county, he said.

Skagit Transit’s proposals

Skagit Transit’s proposal on fare increases goes before the board of directors at its regular meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 in the Skagit Hearing Room at the Port of Skagit County, 15400 Airport Dr.

The meeting is open to the public.

Comments on the proposed fare increase and service changes can be submitted by going to http://www.skagittransit.org and clicking on “contact us,” by calling (360) 757-4433 or by mailing them to 600 County Shop Lane, Burlington WA, 98233.