Getting around Darrington with Community Transit
Community Transit is here to get you where you want to go. We are proud to be a part of the Darrington community — we live here, ride here, and drive here. Wherever you need to go in Darrington, feel good about how you get there.
About Darrington
Darrington is a small mountain town in the foothills of the Cascades, located where two rivers once joined in a valley between the Sauk and the Stillaguamish rivers. The Sauk-Suiattle tribe were the first people to settle in the valley and today their tribe headquarters are located in Darrington. Darrington is connected to nearby areas by State Route 530, which runs along the two rivers towards the city of Arlington, located 30 miles to the west.
Town is home to a variety of small logging and lumber companies as well as Hampton Lumber’s state-of-the-art mill. Darrington’s location near the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and scenic rivers make it a popular destination for outdoor recreation.
People traveling to and from the area can ride from Community Transit buses along Route 230, which connects people to the neighboring Smokey Point Transit Center in Arlington. DART paratransit service and Vanpool are also options. The Sauk-Suiattle DC (Darrington-Concrete) Direct Shuttle Bus Service, a program operated by the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, also offers public transportation to residents of the reservation, Darrington, and surrounding communities.
Spanning over 27 miles between the City of Arlington and the Town of Darrington, the Whitehorse Regional Trail follows the path of the former BNSF railroad through the North Stillaguamish River Valley, offering a scenic travel option for people hiking, biking, and riding horseback.
New Zip Shuttle pilot areas now available
Zip Shuttle service areas now include Lake Stevens, Arlington, and Darrington in addition to Alderwood to make getting around even easier!
Popular Destinations
D'Arling Direct shuttle service
Homage's D'Arling Direct, combined with Community Transit’s Route 230 service, gives you more options for travel between Darrington and Arlington on weekdays and weekends.
Community Transit seeks public comment on continuing Zip Alderwood Shuttle
Community Transit is seeking public comment on making Zip Alderwood Shuttle a regular, long-term service. The on-demand ride service, offered for the same price as a local bus trip, is nearing the end of its one-year test period. The agency is considering transitioning Zip to regular, ongoing service.
Zip was launched as a one-year pilot in October 2022. The Zip shuttle is available anywhere within a defined service area in the Alderwood neighborhood of Lynnwood. The flexible service can be used for any reason, including running errands, getting to work, going to the library, or making connections to a bus. Zip operates 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Rides are booked through a smartphone app or by calling the Zip customer service line. Fares can be paid with cash, ORCA card, or debit/credit card. Details are available at communitytransit.org/zip.
“We started planning for Zip by listening to the community. We heard there was a need for something that was safe and easy to use, as well as affordable and readily available,” said Jennifer Hass, Community Transit Senior Manager of Innovation. “Zip customers are finding they can easily access many popular destinations in the Alderwood area, and they are also using it to reach other transit services. Eventually they can use it to connect to light rail in Lynnwood.”
As of this month, Zip has had 23,000 boardings by 1,100 unique customers. Average wait time for customers is less than 15 minutes. The pilot started with three service vehicles and the fleet has now grown to five vehicles.
Public comment is welcome through Sept. 7
Comments can be sent in several ways:
- Email: engage@commtrans.org
- Social: Facebook (/communitytransit), Twitter (@MyCommTrans)
- Mail: Community Transit, Administrative Office, 2312 W Casino Rd, Everett, WA 98204
- Call: (425) 353-RIDE (7433)
- Public hearing: Community Transit Board Meeting, 3 p.m. Sept. 7 (sign up at communitytransit.org/how-to-attend-a-meeting). The meeting will be in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance and an online option available.
Background
Zip is part of Community Transit’s Innovative Services program, which brings new transportation options to communities in Snohomish County. To develop this pilot, Community Transit worked closely with the City of Lynnwood and local community organizations since 2021 to better understand how to meet local transportation needs. The Alderwood area was chosen as the first test area because of its diverse and growing population, popular destinations, and the new Link light rail station coming in 2024. A detailed assessment found travel gaps and barriers to accessing transportation in Lynnwood. Zip’s quick-trip, on-demand shuttle solution was proposed to address these needs.
Following the public comment period, the Community Transit Board of Directors will consider approval of the Zip service recommendation at its Oct. 5 meeting. Community Transit is currently exploring three additional community pilot projects with the cities of Arlington, Darrington, and Lake Stevens.
