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.
Fast, frequent Swift Orange Line coming to south Snohomish County on March 30, 2024
Pictured above: A future Swift Orange Line station located at Edmonds College Transit Center.
Community Transit today announced March 30, 2024 as the launch date for the Swift Orange Line. The new bus rapid transit (BRT) line—the agency’s third—will provide fast, frequent service linking Edmonds College, Alderwood Mall and Mill Creek, with connections to Link light rail in Lynnwood when it opens in fall 2024.
The new, 11-mile BRT line, with easy connections to the Swift Blue and Green lines and other Community Transit routes, is a key part of the agency’s “Transit Changes in 2024 and Beyond” expansion plan. The greatly improved network will bring shorter waits on many local routes and better connections to local services, including Zip Alderwood Shuttle, as well as regional transit services.
“The addition of the Swift Orange Line will open up a new world of possibilities for people who are looking for faster and easier ways to get around our county, the region, and beyond,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “Swift is truly the backbone of Snohomish County’s transit system with its high-capacity buses, accessible features, and iconic stations.”
The March 30, 2024, launch of the Swift Orange Line will be marked with a community celebration, with location and other details to be announced at a later date.
The Swift Orange Line is an $83 million project that has received $67.9 million in federal funding, including $37.2 million from Capital Investment Grant funds and $6.5 million of American Rescue Plan stimulus funding. The project also received $5 million as part of the Connecting Washington package. The remainder is funded by local sales tax approved by voters.
As part of the expansion of the Swift BRT network, the Blue Line will be extended south to meet with light rail in 2024 and the Green Line will be extended farther south into Bothell in coming years. The two existing Swift lines carry more riders each day than any other Community Transit route.
About Swift BRT
- Buses stop at all stations, which are spaced farther apart than regular bus routes, and depart after about 10 seconds. Signal priority technology, bus lanes, and real-time information help keep Swift running swiftly.
- Buses arrive every 10-12 minutes on weekdays and every 15-20 minutes on early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Service is so frequent riders do not need a schedule.
- Swift charges the same fare as other local buses. Riders pay at the station with an ORCA card or use a ticket kiosk before boarding at any door.
- Swift is accessible to wheelchairs, disabled passengers, strollers, carts, and bikes.
