Board Approves 12 Percent Service Increase

This October, local bus and paratransit fares will go up 25 cents; vanpool fares will rise

Snohomish County, Wash. – The Community Transit Board of Directors today approved a 12 percent service increase that will restore 10-minute weekday service to the Swift Blue Line this fall and launch the new Swift Green Line between Bothell and Paine Field next spring. Several other route changes were approved, including changes to Boeing service that will coincide with the 2019 Swift Green Line launch.

The board also approved a 25-cent fare increase for local bus and DART paratransit service, a 3 percent increase in vanpool fares, and a simplification of commuter fares effective Oct. 1, 2018.

Details of the service and fare plans are available at www.communitytransit.org/NewService [link archived].

Fall 2018 service changes

These changes will go into effect on September 23, 2018.

Swift Blue Line (Everett-Shoreline)

• Swift Blue Line buses will operate every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. M-F. Buses will continue to run every 20 minutes early mornings, nights and weekends.
• An extra early morning weekday trip will be added in each direction at approximately 4:20 a.m.

Route 109 (Ash Way-Lake Stevens)

• Route 109 will no longer serve Hwy 9 in Lake Stevens between 20^th Street and the Lake Stevens Transit Center. Buses will instead travel along 20^th Street and 99^th Avenue. The rest of the route remains unchanged.

Route 196 (Edmonds-Ash Way)

• Route 196 will no longer serve 196^th Street in Lynnwood between 44^th and 48^th avenues. Instead, buses will travel on 44^th and 48^th avenues to serve the Lynnwood Transit Center. The rest of the route remains unchanged.

Route 413 (Lynnwood-Seattle)

• Thirteen trips will be added to Route 413. These trips include four southbound late-morning trips to Seattle and nine early afternoon and later evening northbound trips to Snohomish County.
• The change will provide more flexibility to Seattle commuters and encourage people to use the under-utilized Swamp Creek Park & Ride in north Lynnwood.
• This change will also provide a 2^nd Avenue option for midday Seattle commuters.

Spring 2019 changes

These changes are expected to take effect in March 2019.

Swift Green Line (Bothell-Paine Field)

• The Swift Green Line will being service between the Canyon Park Park & Ride in Bothell and the Seaway Transit Center near Paine Field.
• Swift Green Line buses will operate every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. M-F, and every 20 minutes early mornings, nights and weekends.
• The Swift Green Line will intersect with the Swift Blue Line at Highway 99 and Airport Road, creating a high-frequency, high-capacity transit network.
• With the Swift Green Line, 45 percent more Snohomish County residents will have easy access to 10-minute bus service.
• More information about the Swift Green Line is available at www.communitytransit.org/SwiftGreen.

   

  Route 107 (Lynnwood Transit Center-Boeing)

• Route 107 will be reourted to serve new stops along the Mukilteo Speedway and 84th Street, serving local businesses and the Future of Flight Museum.

• One new trip will be added to Route 107, time TBD.

  Routes 227 & 247 (Boeing)

• One new round-trip will be added to both Routes 227 & 247, and trip times moved earlier to meet new Boeing shift times and allow for transfers.

  Routes 107, 227, 247, 271 & 280 (Boeing)

• These routes to Boeing will serve the Seaway Transit Center rather than the Boeing-Everett plant. Transfers to Everett Transit, Swift Green Line or private shuttles will get riders to their final destination.

• Route 107 will be rerouted to serve new stops along the Mukilteo Speedway and 84^th Street, serving local businesses and the Future of Flight Museum.
• One new trip will be added to Route 107, time TBD.

• One new round-trip will be added to Routes 227 & 247 and trip times moved earlier to meet new Boeing shift times and allow for transfers.

Fare changes

Community Transit will increase fares on local bus, DART paratransit and vanpool service on Oct. 1, 2018. In addition, the agency is establishing a single commuter fare for service between Snohomish and King counties.

• Service on local bus routes within Snohomish County and DART paratransit service will increase by 25 cents. The new fares will be:
  • Adult - $2.50, Youth - $1.75 and Reduced fare - $1.25. DART - $2.50.
• Commuter fares for all routes to Seattle/UW will be:
  • Adult - $4.25, Youth - $3 and Reduced fare - $2.
  • This replaces the North/East County and South County commuter fares. The new single commuter fare is set at the South County rate, which is the lower of the two commuter fares.
• Vanpool rates will be increased an average of 3 percent, or about $14/month per van, based on size of van and length of trip. A more detailed vanpool fare chart is available at www.communitytransit.org/NewService.

Community Transit is responsible for providing bus and paratransit service, vanpool and alternative commute options in Snohomish County. The agency is building a network of Swift bus rapid transit lines with Swift Blue Line along Highway 99 and the Swift Green Line between Canyon Park/Bothell and Boeing/Paine Field coming in 2019.