The Swift Blue Line is a bus rapid transit route operated by Community Transit in Snohomish County, Washington, as part of the Swift system. The Blue Line is 16.7 miles (26.9 km) long and runs on the State Route 99 and Evergreen Way corridor between Everett Station and Aurora Village Transit Center. It has 34 stations in the cities of Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Shoreline.
Swift Blue Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() A Blue Line bus in Everett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System | Swift | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator | Community Transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Garage | Merrill Creek Base | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vehicle |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Operating | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Began service | November 29, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessors | Community Transit routes 100 and 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route type | Bus rapid transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Snohomish County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Communities served | Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start | Everett Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Via | Evergreen Way, State Route 99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End | Aurora Village Transit Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Length | 16.7 miles (26.9 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other routes | Everett Transit routes 7 and 8, Community Transit route 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequency | 10 minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weekend frequency | 20 minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journey time | 49 minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operates | 4:15 am – 11:00 pm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual patronage | 1,621,838 (2015)[1]: 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transfers | Swift Green Line at Airport Road RapidRide E Line at Aurora Village | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timetable | Swift Blue Line schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Blue Line has the highest ridership of any Community Transit route, carrying over 1.6 million total passengers in 2015.[1]: 37–38 It also has the highest frequency out of all Community Transit routes, running at 12-minute headways on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and 20-minute headways during early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
The line opened with 28 stations on November 29, 2009 as "Swift", becoming the first bus rapid transit system in the state of Washington and costing $29 million to construct. Four infill stations in Everett were opened in 2011, and a southbound infill station serving Edmonds College opened in 2016. It gained the "Blue Line" moniker in August 2016, with the announcement of a second line, the Green Line, that opened in March 2019.
Route
editThe Blue Line, designated internally as Community Transit Route 701,[2] begins at Bays G and H at the south end of Everett Station.[3]: 72 Buses travel north on Smith Avenue, passing the station building and parking lots, and turn west onto Pacific Avenue towards Downtown Everett. The line continues west on Pacific, stopping at a station split between Wetmore and Colby avenues near the Snohomish County Government Campus, before turning south onto Rucker Avenue. The next station pair, split between 40th and 41st streets, serves The Everett Clinic and the Everett Memorial Stadium complex, as well as the northern terminus of the Interurban Trail.[4] Buses travel south in general purpose lanes on Evergreen Way, passing over State Route 526 north of Casino Road Station.[5] The road continues southwest as State Route 99 into the unincorporated community of Lake Stickney, where the Blue Line stops at Airport Road Station, a transfer with the Green Line to the Boeing Everett Factory and Mill Creek,[6] and Lincoln Way Station north of an interchange with State Route 525.[7] The line enters the city of Lynnwood and moves into business access and transit (BAT) lanes at 148th Street Station,[8] where a queue jump signal for northbound buses was installed in 2012.[9][10] The Blue Line continues south on State Route 99 through Lynnwood, serving the Lynnwood Crossroads area at 196th and 200th streets and the Edmonds College with a southbound-only stop at 204th Street, and continues into Edmonds to stop at the Edmonds Swedish Medical Center.[11] The line crosses over State Route 104 and enters the city of Shoreline in King County, before it turns east onto North 200th Street and reaches its southern terminus at Aurora Village Transit Center Bay 9.[12][13][14][15]
Stations
editThe Blue Line serves 34 stations, grouped into 16 pairs spaced approximately one mile (1.6 km) apart from each other, on its 16.7-mile-long (27 km) route.[16]: 3–4 Swift stations consist of a 40-foot-long (12 m), 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) covered shelter on a 60-to-70-foot-long (18 to 21 m), 10-inch-high (25 cm) platform that allows for level boarding onto buses.[16]: 4 [17] The platform and shelter also include a roadside beacon that is lit at night, graffiti-resistant weather barriers, two Parkeon ticket vending machines,[18] two ORCA card readers, and a next bus arrival sign. Buses stop at all stations,[19] are allowed a dwell time of 10 seconds, and use curb bumpers to guide them closer to the platform.[9][17]
Transfers from the Blue Line to other bus routes are possible at every station, served by shadow service running on the State Route 99 and Evergreen Way corridor between Blue Line stations and frequently-spaced stops. Community Transit route 101 runs from Aurora Village Transit Center to the Everett city limits at Airport Road Station, and Everett Transit routes 7 and 8 run on the Swift corridor within Everett.[3]: 35–50 [20] There are several intersecting routes that connect Blue Line to Sound Transit Express service on Interstate 5 in Lynnwood: three routes on 200th Street near Crossroads and Heron stations travel east to Lynnwood Transit Center;[11] and two routes on 148th Street travel to Ash Way Park and Ride.[21][22] The Blue Line's terminals also provide a connection to regional services that run south to Seattle: Everett Station has Sounder commuter rail and Sound Transit Express bus routes to Seattle, and Aurora Village Transit Center is the terminus for the RapidRide E Line, a bus rapid transit route on Aurora Avenue that runs through Shoreline to Downtown Seattle.[13][14][23]
List of stations
editStation | ID[16]: 4–5 [24] | Location | City | Connections[14][25] | Opened | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Everett Station | 2837, 2838 | 3201 Smith Avenue | Everett | Amtrak, Sounder commuter rail, ST Express, Community Transit, Everett Transit | November 29, 2009 | [4] |
Colby Avenue/Wetmore Avenue | 2835, 2836 | Pacific Avenue & Colby/Wetmore avenues | Everett | Community Transit, Everett Transit | November 29, 2009 | [4] |
40th Street/41st Street | 2819, 2820 | Evergreen Way & 40th/41st streets | Everett | Everett Transit | November 29, 2009 | [4] |
50th Street | 2815, 2816 | Evergreen Way & 50th Street | Everett | Everett Transit route 7 | November 29, 2009 | [26] |
Madison Street/Pecks Drive | 2807, 2810 | Evergreen Way & Madison Street/Pecks Drive | Everett | Everett Transit | December 21, 2010 (northbound)[27] January 25, 2011 (southbound)[28] |
|
Casino Road | 2795, 2796 | Evergreen Way & Casino Road | Everett | Everett Transit | November 29, 2009 | [5] |
4th Avenue | 2787, 2788 | Evergreen Way & 4th Avenue | Everett | Everett Transit | November 29, 2009 | [5] |
112th Street | 2783, 2784 | State Route 99 & 112th Street | Everett | Everett Transit | January 4, 2011 (northbound)[29] January 25, 2011 (southbound)[28] |
|
Airport Road | 2781, 2782 | State Route 99 & Airport Road | Everett | Swift Green Line Community Transit, Everett Transit |
November 29, 2009 | [7] |
Lincoln Way | 2779, 2780 | State Route 99 & Lincoln Way | Lynnwood | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [7] |
148th Street | 2777, 2778 | State Route 99 & 148th Street | Lynnwood | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [21] |
International/Cherry Hill | 2767, 2770 | State Route 99 & 174th/176th streets | Lynnwood | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [30] |
Heron[n 1] | 2761 | State Route 99 & 200th Street | Lynnwood | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [11] |
Crossroads/196th Street | 2764, 3247 | State Route 99 & 196th Street | Lynnwood | Swift Orange Line Community Transit |
November 29, 2009 (southbound) August 21, 2023 (northbound) |
[11][31] |
College[n 2] | 2760 | State Route 99 & 204th Street | Lynnwood | Community Transit | February 3, 2016 | [32] |
Gateway/216th Street | 2753, 2754 | State Route 99 & 216th Street | Edmonds | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [11] |
238th Street | 2747, 2748 | State Route 99 & 238th Street | Edmonds | Community Transit | November 29, 2009 | [12] |
Aurora Village Transit Center | 2742, 2877 | 1524 N 200th Street | Shoreline | RapidRide E Line, Community Transit, King County Metro | November 29, 2009 | [12] |
Timepoint or terminus[14] |
- Notes
Service
editType | Frequency | Span of service | |
---|---|---|---|
Days | Times | ||
Mornings | 15 minutes | Monday–Friday | 4:15 a.m. – 6:00 am |
Weekdays | 10 minutes | Monday–Friday | 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 pm |
Evenings | 20 minutes | Monday–Friday | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 pm |
Saturday | 15 minutes | Saturday | 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 pm |
Saturday evenings | 20 minutes | Saturday | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 pm |
Sunday | 20 minutes | Sunday | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 pm |
The Blue Line runs at a headway of 10 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm on weekdays, its highest level of service with five buses per hour per direction.[34] Weekday service begins with a headway of 20 minutes from 4:15 a.m. to 6:00 am, and ends with the same frequency during the evening from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 pm. During Saturdays, buses run every 15 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and every 20 minutes from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. Sunday service, which was suspended from 2010 until 2015,[35][36] runs from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm every 20 minutes.[33][14] Swift initially ran at a 10-minute headway, and had evening service end at midnight, until a major system-wide service reduction in February 2012 reduced its weekday headway to 12 minutes.[37][38] The 10-minute weekday frequency was restored in September 2018,[34] and Saturday frequency was bumped from 20 minutes to 15 minutes in September 2019.[39]
The Blue Line carried a total of 1,621,838 riders in 2015, making it the most popular route operated by Community Transit, and accounting for 16.2% of the agency's total ridership.[1]: 37
Service on the Blue Line was reduced to every 12 minutes on weekdays in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] Fare collection was also suspended until June 1 to increase physical distancing between passengers, drivers, and fare ambassadors.[41] Full service was restored in September 2020.[42]
History
editFormer services
editBlue Line bus rapid transit service on the State Route 99 corridor was preceded by decades of transit services traveling through southwestern Snohomish County, which ranged from an interurban railway to local buses. The Seattle–Everett Interurban Railway ran interurban service from 1910 to 1939 along the Pacific Highway, later U.S. Route 99 and State Route 99.[43] During its heyday, the interurban ran at 30-minute headways throughout the day, and only made automatic stops at its terminals in Everett and Seattle.[44][45] The railway was dismantled and later used as right of way for overhead power lines,[46] until it was converted into a rail trail in the 1990s and 2000s, named the Interurban Trail.[47]
Community Transit was founded in 1976 as the public transit agency for Snohomish County,[48] and introduced local service from Everett to Aurora Village via State Route 99 on route 750.[49] By 1991, the State Route 99 corridor had the highest ridership on both Community Transit and Everett Transit.[50] Route 750 was later renumbered to route 610,[51] which was later upgraded to 15-minute headways in the 1990s, and itself split into two routes, 100 and 101, in 2003.[52][53] Community Transit route 100 ran during peak hours along the full length of the corridor from Aurora Village to Everett, while route 101 only ran the southern portion of the route to South Everett, with all-day service that required a transfer to Everett Transit to complete trips to downtown Everett.[54]
BAT lanes and BRT studies
editPlanning for limited-stop bus service, which later evolved into bus rapid transit, began in the 1990s, with proposals to build bus lanes on State Route 99 between 145th Street NE in Shoreline and Casino Road (near State Route 526) in Everett.[55] Sound Transit was established in 1996 as a regional transit authority, and selected the State Route 99 corridor as a route for its express bus system,[56] but later replaced it, before service began, with an express route on Interstate 5 from Everett to Northgate, while leaving SR 99 to Community Transit.[52][57] Sound Transit funded the construction of business access and transit lanes on State Route 99 through Lynnwood from 244th Street to 148th Street in 2002, converting former parking lanes, and widening the highway in some areas, improving existing bus service, and laying the ground for a future bus rapid transit line.[58]
Community Transit's Strategic Planning Group published a recommendation in 2004, calling for bus rapid transit service on the State Route 99 corridor between Everett Station and Aurora Village Transit Center, featuring off-board fare collection, limited stops, and transit signal priority. The route alternatives proposed included express service from Aurora Village to Downtown Seattle via Aurora Avenue North or Interstate 5, as well as express service on Interstate 5 in Everett, if a partnership to share costs with Everett Transit for the Evergreen Way segment was not viable.[59] In December 2005, the CT Board of Directors approved an accelerated planning schedule for a bus rapid transit project, to cost an estimated $15–20 million, and to begin service as the first such system in the Puget Sound region in 2008.[60]
Planning, design and construction
editCommunity Transit unveiled detailed plans for its bus rapid transit system, including the "Swift" name and logo, on July 26, 2006. The first line, located on State Route 99 between Everett and Aurora Village, would begin operating in 2008, with 10-minute headways and limited stops. The agency envisioned real-time arrival signs at stations, and transit signal priority, among other improvements over existing bus service.[61][62]
The following year, CT purchased its fleet of 15 hybrid diesel-electric buses from New Flyer, at a cost of $879,028 per vehicle, to be paid for with state and federal subsidies.[63]
Community Transit signed an agreement on December 5, 2007 with Everett Transit, which allowed for Swift to operate within Everett city limits with sales tax revenue from Everett funding stations, and transit signal priority within Everett. In exchange, Everett Transit would be allowed to expand its services into neighboring unincorporated areas that do not have CT service.[64][65]
A groundbreaking ceremony for the first Swift station, located at Airport Road in south Everett, was held on December 3, 2008, and was attended by Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, and the mayors of Everett and Marysville.[66] Stations were constructed in two phases: the first consisting of utility relocation and pouring of the concrete shelter pad; the second being the installation of the shelters, beacons, and other amenities beginning in June 2009.[67] The first station to be completed, a training facility at the Merrill Creek bus base, was opened during a media event on May 5, 2009;[68] in September 2009, the first station on the line was completed at 196th Street in Lynnwood.[69]
The project cost a total of $29 million (equivalent to $41.2 million in 2024[70]), of which $15 million was paid for by grants from the Federal Transit Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation, as well as the partnership with Everett Transit. The grants also paid for the majority of the cost to operate Swift for its first three years of service, estimated at $5 million annually, allowing it to maintain 10-minute headways, while the rest of Community Transit service was reduced in 2010.[35][71]
Launch and additional stations
editSwift launched on November 29, 2009 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Crossroads Station, and a day of free rides from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.[72] The following day marked the beginning of regular service, with the first runs departing their termini at 5:00 am, and the new service attracted more than 1,500 riders, with end-to-end trips taking 20 minutes less compared to local buses on the same corridor.[73][74][75] Swift debuted as the first bus rapid transit line in the state of Washington, ahead of King County's RapidRide, opening a year later in 2010,[76] and one of the longest lines in the country when it opened.[71]
Existing local service on the State Route 99 was reduced on November 29 to accommodate the introduction of Swift. Community Transit eliminated route 100, a peak only service on the corridor, and reduced weekday headways on route 101 from 15 minutes to 20 minutes.[77] Everett Transit reduced weekday headways on route 9, running from Airport Road Station to the Everett Community College, from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.[78]
The successful launch of Swift, which saw ridership grow to 3,000 daily boardings in its first five months of service, earned Community Transit a Vision 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council in May 2010.[79] The agency also received two bronze Summit Creative Awards for the launch of Swift, as well as instructional videos on riding Swift that were published on YouTube.[80]
Four infill stations located in Everett were added to Swift in December 2010 and January 2011: a split pair at Madison Street and Pecks Drive, filling a nearly 2-mile-long (3.2 km) gap between Casino Road and 50th Street,[27] and a pair at 112th Street.[28][29] The stations were paid for by $1.6 million in regional mobility grants from the Washington State Department of Transportation to Everett Transit, awarded in May 2009.[68][81] An additional southbound Swift station, College Station at 204th Street SW in Lynnwood, was opened on February 3, 2016. It has no matching northbound station and serves Edmonds College. It was originally proposed with the rest of the Lynnwood stations, but was delayed while waiting for the City of Lynnwood to extend 204th Street and build a traffic signal at its intersection with State Route 99.[32] A northbound station at 196th Street opened in August 2023 as part of preparations for the future Orange Line, which will have a transfer at the intersection. It is the first station to use an updated Swift design with longer windscreens, improved station signage and digital kiosks, and a new roof.[31]
Later developments
editSwift stations were given a number of small improvements after the line opened. Curb bumpers were installed in June 2010 to help guide buses closer to the raised platform, and reduce the gap at the door.[17] In 2012, a queue jump signal was installed northbound at the north end of the BAT lanes at 148th Street, allow Swift buses to merge into traffic.[10] Real-time arrival signs debuted at Swift stations in 2013, featuring a countdown to the arrival of the next bus that is estimated using GPS units on coaches.[82][83] In June 2015, the Washington State Department of Transportation removed part of the refuge island at the intersection of State Route 99 and Airport Road to create a through lane exclusively for Swift buses.[84][85]
Bus service on Aurora Avenue North, the continuation of State Route 99 in Shoreline and Seattle, was upgraded to bus rapid transit with the introduction of the RapidRide E Line in February 2014.[86] The line terminates at Aurora Village Transit Center, allowing for transfers to Swift.[13][87]
On August 12, 2016, Community Transit announced that Swift would be rebranded as the "Swift Blue Line", while the planned Swift II line would become the Green Line.[88] The Green Line opened on March 24, 2019, and connects with the Blue Line at Airport Road Station.[89]
Future plans
editCommunity Transit is scheduled to extend the Blue Line through Shoreline to connect with Link light rail at Shoreline North/185th station on September 14, 2024. The extension opens two weeks after the station opens as part of the Lynnwood Link Extension.[90][91][92] In June 2020, the agency announced that the Blue Line extension would follow Meridian Avenue between the Aurora Village Transit Center and North 185th Street, prioritizing connections at the existing transit center over other options.[93]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c 2016–2021 Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). Community Transit. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
- ^ "Swift Schedule: Aurora Village to Everett Swift Station". Community Transit. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ a b "Everett Transit Bus Schedule & Service Guide" (PDF). Everett Transit. February 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Swift Kiosk Map 1: Downtown Everett (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c Swift Kiosk Map 3: Casino Road and 4th Avenue (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ "Swift Green Line". Community Transit. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c Swift Kiosk Map 4: Airport Road and Lincoln Way (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ Sheets, Bill (May 27, 2011). "No right-turn lanes in Everett on Highway 99, yet". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "Swift". Community Transit. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "Queue Jump Light Gives Swift a Head Start on Hwy 99" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Swift Kiosk Map 7: Crossroads/Heron and Gateway/216th Street (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c Swift Kiosk Map 8: 238th Street and Aurora Village Transit Center (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Aurora Village Transit Center Boarding Locations". King County Metro. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Swift bus rapid transit" (Map). Community Transit Bus Plus: Schedules & Route Maps (PDF). Community Transit. September 2019. pp. 37–59. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Swift bus rapid transit" (Map). Google Maps. Google. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c Otak (May 27, 2008). Swift Bus Rapid Transit Project SEPA Environmental Checklist (PDF) (Report). Community Transit. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Swift Stations Will Get Curb Bumpers" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ "Board of Directors' Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes, July 3, 2008". Community Transit. July 3, 2008. Archived from the original (DOC) on September 7, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
Councilmember Deanna Dawson moved to approve this off-board fare collection strategy for the Swift BRT stations and authorize the CEO to purchase 62 ticket vending machines, supplies, spares, and management system, with contingency and taxes not-to-exceed $1,175,860, using the City of Seattle contract with Parkeon. Councilmember Michelle Angrick seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
- ^ "Swift Bus Rapid Transit Turns 5!" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^ "Route 101: Aurora Village to Mariner Park & Ride". Community Transit. June 7, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ a b Swift Kiosk Map 5: Lincoln Way and 148th Street (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ Community Transit System Map: Snohomish County (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-09. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "RapidRide E Line overview". King County Metro. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "Bus Stop List: Swift". Community Transit. June 7, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ Everett Transit System Map (PDF) (Map). Everett Transit. August 23, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ^ Swift Kiosk Map 2: 40th/41st Street and 50th Street (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "New Swift Bus Rapid Transit Station Opens Dec. 21" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Final Two Swift Stations Open Jan. 25" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. January 24, 2011. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "New Northbound 112th St. Swift Station Opens Jan. 4" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. January 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ Swift Kiosk Map 6: International/Cherry Hill and Crossroads/Heron (PDF) (Map). Community Transit. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Swift Blue Line Station at Hwy 99 and 196th St Now Open" (Press release). Community Transit. August 21, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Swift College Station Opens Near Edmonds Community College" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "About Swift". Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Swift Blue Line Returns to 10-Minute Service on Sept. 24" (Press release). Community Transit. September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ a b "Agency Prepares for Sunday Service Suspension, Other Cuts, Effective June 13" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. May 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "June 2015 Service Expansion & Fare Increase". Community Transit. June 7, 2015. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "Major Service Changes Start Feb. 20". Community Transit. February 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Community Transit to launch hybrid BRT service". Metro Magazine. November 10, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Community Transit expanding bus service starting Sunday". The Everett Herald. September 19, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Temporary Service Reductions to Begin Monday, March 30" (Press release). Community Transit. March 26, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Sanders, Julia-Grace (July 5, 2020). "Community Transit drivers: Too soon to open the front doors". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "2021–2026 Transit Development Plan" (PDF). Community Transit. September 2, 2021. p. 31. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Crowley, Walt (March 2, 2003). "Interurban rail service between Everett and Seattle begins on April 30, 1910". HistoryLink. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Bird, Frederick (May 2000). "The Seattle-Everett Interurban Railway, 1910–1939" (PDF). Snohomish County. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Moriarty, Leslie (July 31, 1997). "Ex-motorman recalls the age of the trolley". The Everett Herald.
- ^ "Interurban Trail". City of Lynnwood. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ Lobos, Ignacio (September 9, 1994). "Lynnwood First To Finish Portion Of Interurban Trail – City To Unveil Link In Bicycle, Pedestrian Path Running From Everett To Seattle". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Community Transit Marks 35th Anniversary" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ Aerodrome Press & Maps To Go (November 1988). "Community Transit SW Snohomish County Routes" (Map). Metro Transit Map. King County Metro. Retrieved July 18, 2015 – via Flickr.
- ^ Woodnik, Bob (October 20, 1991). "Along for the Ride: Buses offer sense of community along with transportation". The Everett Herald. p. A1. Retrieved March 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Murakami, Kery (February 3, 2002). "Community Transit up to speed". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ a b Manuel Padron and Associates (October 1998). "XI. Regional Express Bus Route Summary" (PDF). Sound Transit Regional Express Bus System Implementation Plan (Report). Sound Transit. p. 20. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Bus-service expansion OK'd; Alderwood Mall to see boost". The Seattle Times. November 13, 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Route 100/101: Aurora Village / Mariner P&R or Everett Station". Community Transit. June 2009. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ Bergsman, Jerry (July 27, 1990). "Bus Lanes Considered For Highway 99". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Sound Move: Launching a Rapid Transit System for the Puget Sound Region" (PDF). Sound Transit. May 31, 1996. pp. 16–17. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Schaefer, David (November 9, 1998). "Sound Transit Picking Up Speed – Three-County Web Of Express-Bus Routes Nears Approval". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Lynnwood State Route 99 Transit Lanes Project". Sound Transit. October 31, 2003. Archived from the original on December 13, 2003. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Community Transit Strategic Planning Group (April 1, 2004). "Section 8: We've Only Just Begun". Transit First: Transit Development Plan, 2004–2009 (Report). Community Transit. pp. 82–90. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Agency to Launch Region's First Bus Rapid Transit System" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 1, 2005. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "New Bus Rapid Transit Route Called "Swift"" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. July 26, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Alexander, Bryan (August 2, 2006). "Community Transit plans rapid bus service along 99". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Agency Chooses Hybrid Buses for Swift" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Community Transit, Everett Transit Become Partners" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Brooks, Diane (December 12, 2007). "Community Transit, Everett form 17-mile partnership". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Construction Begins on Swift Bus Rapid Transit" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "First Swift Shelter Being Constructed at 196th St. Southbound" (PDF). Swift Messenger. No. 14. Community Transit. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ a b "First Look at Swift Bus Rapid Transit" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. May 5, 2009. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "First Swift Station Completed" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. September 22, 2009. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Gutierrez, Scott (November 25, 2009). "Community Transit debuts 'Swift' line". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
- ^ "Swift Bus Rapid Transit to Fly on Nov. 29" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. November 16, 2009. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (November 30, 2009). "Bus rapid transit launches today from Everett to Shoreline". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Riders See Time Savings on Swift" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ Sheets, Bill (December 12, 2009). "Early raves roll in from first Swift bus riders". The Everett Herald. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
- ^ "Metro's new RapidRide "A" Line to connect Tukwila and Federal Way launches Oct. 2" (Press release). King County Metro. October 1, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ "Service Changes Include Swift, Other Route Adjustments" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. November 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ Sheets, Bill (November 21, 2009). "Everett Transit reorganizing bus routes for new Swift service starting late November". The Everett Herald. The Washington Post Company. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Congratulations 2010 VISION 2040 Award Winners". Puget Sound Regional Council. 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Swift Earns Vision 2040 Award" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. May 24, 2010. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ Sheets, Bill (December 21, 2010). "New Everett Swift bus stop opens". The Everett Herald. The Washington Post Company. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Munguia, Martin (September 5, 2013). "Next Bus Signs Live on Swift!". Community Transit Blog. Community Transit. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Transit Technologies Project Launched" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "SR 99 – Airport Rd. Intersection Transit Queue Bypass Safety Improvements". Washington State Department of Transportation. July 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Slager, Melissa (April 9, 2015). "New bus lane to ease flow on Highway 99 at Airport Road". The Everett Herald. Sound Publishing. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Metro's RapidRide E Line debuts Feb. 15" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: King County Metro. February 10, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (February 15, 2014). "Aurora Avenue North bus now RapidRide". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "New Names: Swift Blue Line & Swift Green Line!" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. August 12, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
- ^ Giordano, Lizz (March 21, 2019). "From Bothell to Boeing: Green Line bus route begins Sunday". The Everett Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ Hansen, Jordan (August 5, 2024). "Sound Transit exploring paid parking at Lynnwood light rail station". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Existing Conditions and Population Forecasts" (PDF). 185th Street Station Subarea Plan (Report). City of Shoreline. March 2015. pp. 3–21. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Chapter 5.2.2: Long Term Impacts on Local and Sub-Regional Bus Transit" (PDF). Lynnwood Link Final Environmental Impact Statement: Transportation Technical Report (Report). Sound Transit. April 2015. pp. 5–29. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Community Transit Announces Preferred Route for Swift Blue Line Extension to Light Rail in Shoreline" (Press release). Community Transit. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.