The Pierce Transit board of commissioners on May 10 rejected the transit authority’s “reduction plan” and instructed the administration to maximize ridership in urban areas, meaning bus service to the eastern part of the county could end by October.

“The effect is to eliminate routes,” said Jessyn Farrell, interim public relations officer for Pierce Transit.

Pierce Transit is looking to reduce routes by 35 percent as the result of falling revenues and the voters’ rejection of Pierce Transit’s Proposition 1 ballot measure in February that would have raised sales tax by 0.3 percent.

Approximately 70 percent of Pierce Transit’s revenues come through sales tax. Pierce Transit is expecting a gap of at least $51 million due to falling revenues during the recession.

More than 64 percent of voters in the 31st Legislative District, which includes Sumner, Bonney Lake and Buckley, rejected the ballot measure, with many characterizing it as “lose-lose” for East Pierce, which would have seen taxes increase and services decline.

Now, however, the region can expect more than a decline, but an elimination of most routes east of the Puyallup city limits as the board instead looks to focus on urban areas with increased ridership.

The board’s move was somewhat unexpected after Pierce Transit spent months preparing the public for the implementation of its “Reduction Plan,” which would have drastically reduced routes through east Pierce County.

Instead, Farrell called the decision a “very significant” change of direction for the bus authority.

Farrell said the 35 percent reduction would come in two phases. The first, a 20 percent reduction, will be implemented June 12 with a reduction in both routes and the number of trips each route makes in a day.

“Trips won’t start as early in the morning or end as late,” Farrell said.

Farrell said the 20 percent reduction will make permanent many of the emergency reductions put into place to deal with a February fire at Pierce Transit’s compressed natural gas fueling station in south Tacoma. Some routes will be altered and services reallocated to help commuters connect to jobs and school.

The complete list of affected routes was not available at press time, but Farrell said to check the company’s website today, Wednesday.

The second phase, an additional 15 percent reduction that now appears to eliminate service for east Pierce County, is set for October.

A public hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. June 13 at Pierce Transit headquarters, 3720 96th Street SW, Lakewood. A vote is expected in June or July.

This story has been updated to correct the size of the budget gap, the proposed sales tax increase and the time of the public hearing.