Community Transit

First Swift Station Completed

September 22, 2009

Swift stations are emerging on the Highway 99 corridor in preparation for service to start on Nov. 30

Driver training, outreach underway for states first bus rapid transit project

Snohomish County, Wash. - The state's first bus rapid transit line will launch in 68 days, and the first station along the route is fully complete.

Community Transit's Swift bus rapid transit line will launch on Nov. 29, with full service starting the following day. Swift will offer 10-minute service to 12 stations each direction along Highway 99 between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline.

While Swift stations have been emerging along the route this summer, the 196th Street station on southbound Highway 99 was pronounced fully complete last week. This means that the station is ready for service.

Swift stations will remain fenced off until just before service begins, but they will see plenty of action before then. Community Transit drivers are training in the 62-foot hybrid Swift buses, including precision docking at the stations' raised platforms. Up to nine buses are on the corridor each day for training.

To help the public keep track of when Swift service will begin, Community Transit has added a Swift Countdown Clock to its website at www.communitytransit.org.

Also, agency staff will be in the corridor to introduce customers to the new service throughout this fall. A Swift bus will be at the Aurora Village Transit Center this Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 7-9 a.m. On Friday, Sept. 25 from 2-5 p.m., a Swift bus will be at the Lynnwood Transit Center. Other events are planned at Edmonds Community College, the Snohomish County Campus in Everett and elsewhere along the route. For the latest event schedule, visit www.communitytransit.org/swift.

Swift bus rapid transit service will operate every 10 minutes from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and every 20 minutes at night and on weekends. Passengers will pay their fare at stations rather than onboard the bus, eliminating lines and speeding up the service. Fewer stops, new technology and onboard bike racks are several other features that make Swift swift.

Community Transit works in partnership with other transit agencies and municipalities to help commuters think transit first. The agency has partnered with six other transportation agencies to develop the ORCA smart card fare system, and in 2007 signed an historic agreement with the city of Everett to collaborate on Swift, the region's first bus rapid transit line. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.
 

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