Community Transit receives $37.1 million in federal grant funds for Swift Orange Line

Third bus rapid transit line will connect people to light rail in Snohomish County

Snohomish County, Wash.– Community Transit received notification this week from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the execution of $37.1 million grant that clears the way for construction of the Swift Orange Line, which will connect Edmonds College with Mill Creek via the Lynnwood light rail station. Both new services begin operating in 2024. 

The Swift Orange Line will be Snohomish County’s third bus rapid transit (BRT) line and will run for 11.3 miles between McCollum Park Park & Ride and Edmonds College, traveling through Mill Creek and Lynnwood. In addition, it will provide all-day frequent bus service to Sound Transit’s Lynnwood light rail station, also expected to open in 2024.

“The fast, frequent service Swift provides will be needed to help people in Snohomish County connect to and from the regional light rail system,” said CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “We are grateful to the Biden Administration and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for their investment in this project and our region, and to Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Representatives Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene and Pramila Jayapal for their steadfast support of the continued expansion of the Swift network and a renewed emphasis on infrastructure investment.”

In total, the Swift Orange Line Project has received $64.7 million dollars in federal funding, including $37.1 million dollars from Capital Investment Grant funds and $6.7 million dollars of American Rescue Plan stimulus funding.

The Swift Orange Line will provide customers easy access to Mill Creek Town Center, Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood City Center, and Edmonds College, while serving park and rides at McCollum Park, Ash Way, Swamp Creek, and Lynnwood. As a part of the project, the transit facilities at McCollum Park and at Edmonds College will be renovated to better accommodate future services at each site.

With frequent stops on popular corridors, Swift currently has the highest level of ridership in Community Transit’s network. Swift uses an off-board payment system and all-door loading-and-unloading to provide quicker trips. Swift buses arrive every 10-12 minutes weekdays, and every 20 minutes nights and weekends.

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 and is redesigning its bus network to connect with regional light rail in 2024.