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Community Transit and the City of Lake Stevens are partnering to develop and launch an innovative pilot project to better meet transportation needs within the city.

Bringing more transportation options to Lake Stevens

Community Transit conducted several surveys in Lake Stevens to gather information about how people travel in the area. After identifying travel gaps and barriers to accessing transportation in Lake Stevens, Community Transit proposed two travel options in a final survey. Microtransit and Community Van were proposed as new public travel options in the area, and residents were asked to provide feedback on how useful they thought each of these options would be for Lake Stevens.

Piloting Zip Shuttle in Lake Stevens

Community Transit will pilot its microtransit service, Zip Shuttle, in Lake Stevens. Zip Shuttle is a flexible on-demand shared ride service that you request when you need it. Zip runs within a zone to get you close to home or where you want to go.

You can request rides to pick-up and drop-off inside the service area, at a time that works for you by using a phone app or calling. Once your ride is confirmed, a Zip Shuttle will be on its way to pick you up, with an average wait time of 15 minutes. Like other forms of public transit, you may be sharing a trip with other riders in the same vehicle.

Some of the benefits of Zip include:

  • No need for schedules
  • Flexible service meets you close to where you are, and takes you close to where you want to go within the service area
  • Accessible vehicles are available for riders traveling with mobility devices
  • Can be paid with bus pass (ORCA card)
  • Riders pay local fare; $2.50 or less per trip, and youth 18 and younger ride for free
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A Community Transit Zip shuttle van

Be one of the first to ride Zip – for FREE!

Be among the first to learn when the app is ready to download and receive details on how to get started with the Zip pilot in Lake Stevens. Plus, sign up for our Early Interest list now to get an ORCA card and ride free for one month!*

Sign up for our Zip pilot Early Interest list here

What Lake Stevens residents thought about microtransit:

    • 63% of survey respondents said they would likely try mictrotransit
    • 48% of respondents said they would use microtransit at least once a week or more
    • Shopping and recreational trips were the top reasons for travel
    • Respondents valued the flexibility of being able to request a ride when they want and be able to go where they want
    • Respondents thought a free ride period with a promotional ORCA card was a great incentive to try microtransit

    Zip Alderwood Shuttle was the first microtransit pilot launched by Community Transit. The proposed Lake Stevens pilot would provide new learnings specific to Lake Stevens. Zip in Lake Stevens would connect riders to three local bus routes and the Lake Stevens Transit Center. Estimated service span will be between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The pilot would serve neighborhoods and seven popular destinations that are beyond a quarter mile of bus service. Community Transit may potentially test a Point-to-Hub model, where riders can ride to or from set designated destination hubs within the service area. This helps keep efficiency and meet target wait times in a large service area and population.

    Next Steps

    Community Transit is currently working on launching the new Zip Shuttle pilot in Lake Stevens and two other communities, Arlington and Darrington. These Zip Shuttle pilots are targeted to launch in late 2024. 

    The Community Van pilot, which was one of the surveyed proposed solutions, will continue to be evaluated by the agency. To see the latest progress on this solution, or to learn more about other pilots, visit Community Transit's Innovative Services program page.

    Details of the Zip Shuttle pilot above may change as the pilot is developed.